• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.21
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• pp.53-66
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• 2019

This study describes the processes undertaken for the conservation treatment of metal artifacts excavated in Hasong-ri, Yeongwol, Gangwon-do and the results of the related surface composition analysis. X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) was applied to analyze the surface composition of a small gilt-bronze wind chime, two clappers, and a small gourd-shaped bronze bottle. The gourd-shaped bronze bottle was investigated using radiography to examine its internal structure. The wind chime and clappers were excavated from the same location. A gilt layer was identified on the wind chime, but surface corrosion made it difficult to identify any such layers on the clappers. The element analysis revealed that the wind chime was made of bronze in a Cu-Sn-Pb ternary system and was gilt-plated using mercury amalgam. The clappers were made from copper with a small amount of gold detected, but did not show any evidence of mercury. Since a thick corrosion layer was affixed to the surface of each clapper, it was impossible to identify the surface composition and determine if the clappers had been gilded. It is possible that the gold detected from the clappers was a foreign substance or had detached from the giltbronze wind chime buried alongside them. The small gourd-shaped bronze bottle was investigated through surface element analysis and radiography to verify if it was a type of silver bottle used as currency during the Goryeo dynasty. The radiography photography identified that a small hole in the middle of the base had been stopped up. The general surface analysis did not detect silver, which suggests that the bottle was made of bronze instead and was not one of the silver bottles used as a means of currency.