Earticle

Micromorphological changes in waterlogged archaeological woods excavated from Sweden and Germany were investigated. Especially bacterial attacks on those wood samples under near anaerobic conditions were examined by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The major feature of micromorphological alterations in those wood samples was the preferential destruction of secondary wood cell wall. In contrast, the middle lamella was not extensively degraded. Three distinct degradation patterns by bacteria were observed : erosion, cavitation and tunnelling bacteria. Erosion and cavitation bacteria attacked primarily layer, whereas tunnelling bacteria made the tunnel-like degradation along the layer. Tunnelling bacteria, in some samples, were able to degrade tunnel in the lignin-rich areas, such as middle lamella, suggesting that these bacteria had the capacity to degrade the lignin. IR spectra indicate that hemicellulose and cellulose in the waterlogged woods were preferentially decomposed. Breakdown of the lignin, on the other hand, was much slower.

Ilsan peat-bed site, newly constructed city area, is located at the northern part of Seoul. This site is situated near the mouth of Han river, which flows through central Korea. Many fossil woods were excavated from this site, and surveyed the wood anatomical features. Totally 90 specimens were identified into 10 species including two roots and five barks which were not identified in detail. Alnus japonica and A. maxmowiczii are the most common and occupied 26. 7%, 34.4% of the total specimen number respectively, and then other species which excavated from Ilsan area are follows : Fraxinus rhynchophylla(18.9%), Lepido-balanus spp.(3.3%), Maackia amurensis(2.2%), Diospyros spp.(2.2%), Juglans mandshrica(1.1%), Prunophora spp.(1.1%), Malus or Pyrus spp.(1.1%), Rhamnus spp.(1.1%). Among the identified species there are fairly some species growing in the central - or northern temperate zone, such as A. maxmowiczii, F. rhynchophylla, Lepidobalanus spp., M. amurnsis, J. mandshurica, Rhumnus spp. Therefore, it can be estimated that the former temperature of Ilsan area was same or slightly cold than today. The species bearing fruit for food as .J, mandshunca, Diospyros spp., Prunophora spp., Mulus or Pyrus spp. were regarded as artificially planting trees, because they do not grow together in the same site.

Metallurgical studies of the bronze artifacts excavated from Miruksa Temple were performed by chemical analysis and metallographic observation. Alloy systems of the bronze artifacts were classified into two groups of Cu-Sn and Cu-Sn-Pb, according to the items. The contents of impurities such as Sb, As, Ni and Fe in bronze artifacts are within the limiting range of the mod ern standard bronze castings. Chemical compositions of the kitchen utensils such as bronze vessels and dishes in the Unified Silla dynasty, are in the follow ing range, Cu : 74.8-79.4% and Sn : 18.6-21.1%. Chemical composition of the Buddha-image in Koryo dynasty are 820Cu-7.0Sn-10.3Pb, showing increased Pb content and decreased Sn content. The results of chemical analysis suggest that the chemical compositions were good controlled. Any casting defects such as voids and shrinkage holes are not found microscopically, indicating high casting skill. Zinc atoms are not contained in the all bronze artifacts of Miruksa Temple site. This is the common facts founded in the east asian bronze artifacts of Korea, China and Japan. It is comparable with the European bronze of Cu-Sn-Pb-Zn system, after the Middle Age.

Stone-monuments, distributed in this area, have been investigated and studied in geological and conservational points of view. They are seemed to have been built from the Shilla to Koryeo Kingdoms, although more systematic studies are needed. The used rocks in these monuments are mainly biotite granite of Jurassic age. They are strongly weathered and partly exfoliated along igneous lineation about 1-2 mm(maximum up to 5 mm). They are mainly effected by chemical weathering to be selectively dissolved and by various kind of moss. For conservation, it must be scientifically considered based on characteristics and kind of rock phase, factors on weathering process, situation and protection.

In relation to the scientific conservation treatment of ancient gilt bronze, the gold film coated on the bronze excavated from Hwangnam Great Tomb of Old Silla Kingdom(A. D. 5C) was studied in the view of coating technology and metallurgy of bronze. The uniform and dense gold film containing of Hg with the thickness of was found to be coated on the bronze objects by amalgam coating method. On silver objects, the film with the thickness of was coated also continously and uniformly with gold by the same method. The bronze objects was fabricated by forging technique and contained almost of Pb. Its microstructure was solid solution including Pb segregation in the matrix. The amount of Zn was added in the bronze for the purpose of easy fabricating of Cu alloy. Based on the data studied, the gold film on bronze sample was reproduced by amalgam coating method and compared with the ancient gold film.