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This study examines the rarity of surviving original mounts of traditional Korean paintings and the challenges posed by remounting such works in Chinese or Japanese styles, which often detract from the authentic form of the works. This paper compares two paintings of Yi Jeong (1554–1626) to assess the use and significance of colophons and their role in enhancing scholarly appreciation. The investigation reveals how the refined materials and style used in these mounts reflect the aristocratic origins of Yi Jeong and the high regard his art received during the Joseon dynasty. Furthermore, I will examine historical connections between Yi Jeong’s works and the broader context of Korean literati culture, emphasizing the importance of these works as aesthetic objects and rich cultural artifacts. The findings of this research deepen the understanding of Korean traditional paintings, underscoring the necessity of preserving their authentic mounting styles to honor their historical significance.

Airborne fungal spores and mycelia are consistently present at a high concentrations under suitable conditions, posing a risk of microbial deterioration of textile artifacts. In this study, microorganisms were isolated from contaminated areas on four artifacts, each comprising different materials, such as silk, timber, and lumber. Sequencing analysis identified fungi as the primary cause of deterioration in all tested objects. Five species of fungi were isolated from objects A, B, and C, with five species each, and two fungi were isolated from object D. In addition, one bacterium was isolated on object A. The Aspergillus genus was detected in all objects and generally found on objects B, C, and D, whereas the Penicillium genus predominated on the surface of object A, along with a single bacterial species. Object B presented challenges in removing fungal contamination even after fumigation and several cleaning rounds. Visible fungal reproduction on textile artifacts may decrease their cultural heritage value, and contaminant removal becomes challenging, even with conservation treatments. Notably, the Aspergillus and Penicillium genera, which are known to release enzyme, are key microorganisms in organic artifact conservation. Their proteases, which are capable of degrading silk fabric, emphasize the importance of managing indoor conditions to prevent microbial contamination.

As part of an additional excavation at Yeonghuijeon Hall site in Seoul, black organic residues were discovered inside four white porcelain lidded bowls (baekja hap) excavated near the wall adjacent to the Jeongjeon area. This study analyzed these residues to determine the composition of artifacts deposited in the jindangu (protective ritual deposit) at the time of burial. A surface microanalysis showed that the residues were characterized by multilayered plate-like structures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that these structures were composed of single fibers. No characteristics of animal-based fibers were observed, and the diameter and intertwining patterns of the fibers showed that these were plant-based fibers that had been processed into thin sheets. The residues from Porcelain Bowl 2 exhibited a diversity of materials compared to the other samples. Fiber twisting and diameter analysis identified features that were consistent with both plant-based and animal-based fibers, whereas surface swelling marks suggested the combustion of animal fibers. In addition, thin metallic layers with a golden sheen were observed and analyzed using SEM with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), which confirmed the presence of gold (Au). These findings indicate that the white porcelain lidded bowl contained paper materials together with silk or cotton textiles and small amounts of gold leaf. This study contributed to understanding the use and characteristics of the jindangu in ritual practices during the Joseon era by scientifically analyzing their purpose and the materials deposited within them.

This study aimed to identify and determine the source and procurement route of the rocks used to construct the western rampart castellation and West gate (Gonghaeru) of the Munsusanseong Fortress in Gimpo. Granodiorite, quartzite, schist, and sandstone or pebbly sandstone, identified as the construction rocks, were characterized according to occurrence, magnetic susceptibility, constituent mineral types and textures, and geochemical characteristics. A geological survey of the Munsusan Formation in the vicinity of Munsusanseong and the southern Ganghwa region was undertaken. The sandstone or pebbly sandstone was probably sourced locally; however, the granodiorite is believed to have been sourced externally from southern Ganghwa in the vicinity of Bunori Dondae, another historic fortress, from petrologically and geomorphologically similar granodiorite. Many traces of rock quarrying were observed on a shore platform in this area, and it is believed that the procurement route was via the Yeomha River. This indicates that at the time of construction, during the late Joseon dynasty, economic power and labor mobilization were centered in Ganghwa and its surrounding areas.

This study investigated the microstructural characteristics of glaze, building on the results of investigating the fundamental properties of existing color development. It identified the effect of the firing temperature, firing environment, and mixing ratios of glaze materials on the microstructural characteristics of glaze. Additionally, Mössbauer analysis was utilized to explore the phase changes in iron oxides formed during the firing process. Observations of the cross-sections of replicated specimens showed that the gradual addition of feldspar to glaze materials resulted in the formation of glaze with progressively uniform microstructural characteristics. Furthermore, the compositional analysis of glaze revealed minimal variation in the component content between the glaze surface and interior, indicating a trend toward a more homogeneous composition throughout glaze. Analysis of the crystalline structure revealed that specimens with added feldspar exhibited an increase in the amorphous peak area, while crystalline peak intensities tended to decrease. This suggests that the degree of vitrification is considerably influenced by the amount of feldspar added as a flux. The Mössbauer analysis of aggregated iron oxides revealed that under an oxidation environment, hematite was identified, whereas magnetite was observed under a reduction environment, depending on the firing environment. This indicates that microstructural differences within the glaze of blackware are affected by the materials used, firing temperature, and firing environment. Moreover, the study highlights that the formation of crystals and types of crystalline phases vary according to these parameters.

In this study, climate data analysis was conducted at two Korean museums to demonstrate its benefits for developing customized climate control standards to preserve artifacts in a sustainable manner. Case studies were conducted at Taean National Maritime Museum and Jungwon National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage where monitoring data were collected over a 7-month period. The results showed that display cases greatly mitigated the risks associated with mold and mechanical deformation: they maintained a consistent relative humidity of 50%–60% while the galleries had a much wider variance of 35%–85%. At Taean National Maritime Museum, the microclimates within the display cases deviated from the climate control standards for the galleries despite artifacts remaining undamaged, which indicates that the standards may need to be reassessed for sustainable collection management. At Jungwon National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, plastic bags were shown to be an effective strategy for preserving metal artifacts by maintaining the relative humidity below 20% and preventing corrosion. These findings emphasize the need for adopting climate control standards to match the specific context of each museum and demonstrate how a comprehensive climate data analysis can facilitate sustainable collection management for long-term preservation of artifacts.

Identifying wood species from archaeological artifacts provides crucial information for understanding ancient technological capabilities, resource utilization patterns, paleovegetation, environmental changes, and societal interactions. While traditional microscopical anatomy analysis and common genetic markers (rbcL, rpoB, matK, atp, and 18S) for general plants exhibit limitations in archaeological samples due to DNA degradation and contamination, this study employed the chloroplast trnL gene with shorter sequences for wood identification. Metabarcoding analysis was performed on ancient DNA extracted from wooden components of bronze artifacts (乙-shaped bronze implement, Tubular bronze implement, and Twin-bird Shaped Pommel) excavated from the early Iron Age Namyangju site, targeting the trnL (UAA) intron P6 loop. Using our classifier with reference database constructed from NCBI GenBank and expanded plant database, the analysis identified eight plant families (Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Convolvulaceae, Marantaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Amaryllidaceae). Notably, Rosaceae showed significant presence across all samples (乙-shaped bronze implement: 33.05%, Tubular bronze implement 1: 3.17%, Tubular bronze implement 2: 29.09%, Twin-bird Shaped Pommel: 45.2%), suggesting the use of native woody Rosaceae species. This genetic approach successfully refined the identification of previously unspecified “broadleaf tree/hardwood” specimens to the family level, demonstrating its effectiveness as a complementary method in archaeological wood identification. The results not only provide insights into ancient wood resource utilization patterns but establish a methodological framework for future archaeobotanical studies using ancient DNA analysis.

By analyzing four slags from Bihar and Jharkhand, all in India, we attempted to understand the level of traditional steel-making technology in India. BH-1∼3 can be classified as a tapping slag because it shows traces of flow, whereas JK-1 can be classified as an in-furnace slag considering its dense, flat figure and the existence of iron oxides. Because fayalite appears as a columnar structure in the micro-tissue of the slag, it can be confirmed as a smelting slag, and considering the total amount of Fe and deoxidation agent contents, it can be confirmed that it was created using a direct smelting method. By applying the main component analysis results to the FAS/FCS phase diagram and considering the number of minerals found through the compound analysis, the smelting temperature was assumed to be within 1,000∼1,200℃.

In 1482, during the Joseon dynasty (조선, 朝鮮, 1392-1910), volumes of books on the history of the previous Goryeo dynasty (고려, 高麗, 918-1392) were written and printed with metal type. The similarities and differences between these books on the Goryeo history (고려사, 高麗史), printed with metal type in the 15th century and the identical book printed using re-engraved woodblocks in the 16th century were compared. The printed pages had the same width in both the metal printed books and woodblock books, but differences in page height were observed: the original metal printed books from the 15th century had larger heights than the woodblock printed books from the 16th century. Using image comparison and analysis between various versions of works of Goryeo history, we investigated the correlations between the directional shrinkage of the wood as a potential root cause of the size difference in only one direction between the metal type and the re-engraved woodblock-printed versions. It was confirmed that the comparison of the size and directions of the printed areas is a very effective method of determining the printing method and the sequence of changes in very similar versions of old Korean books.

The gilt-bronze yoni excavated from the Hong Nang Sida Temple in Lao PDR is the first gilt-bronze artifact of its kind to be discovered in Las PDR and is thus recognized for its significant historical value. At the time of its discovery, the bottom of the gilt-bronze yoni had already been damaged and dirt had firmly adhered to its entire body. Therefore, conservation treatment involving surface cleaning, stabilization treatment, reinforcement treatment, attachment of fragments, and restoration of the missing parts was carried out in order to conserve the artifact for a long time. To identify the manufacturing method of the gilt-bronze yoni, observation under an electron microscope and component analysis were carried out, confirming that the exterior was produced by casting using bronze, and then gold plated by amalgam using mercury. Also, based on a digital image analysis that showed extensive corrosion in the upper part of the yoni, it was judged highly likely that the artifact had been directly used in Hindu religious ceremonies. Furthermore, as a result of measuring the radiocarbon age of the molding sand remaining inside the gilt-bronze yoni, the production period was estimated to be around 1,099 土 84 years BP, meaning that the yoni was manufactured around the eleventh or twelfth century, which is similar to the construction period of the Hong Nang Sida Temple.