• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2016

Lead isotope ratio of bronze artifacts excavated from Dongchon Site in Sunchang have determined by TIMS. As results of comparison lead isotope ratio of bronze objects with the provenance data of galenas of Korea, China, and Japan, the provenance of three material of bronze objects were turned out to originate from the southern and northern part of China. On the other hands, data were plotted either in zone 3 of the South Korean galena map. The results of these scientific analysis of bronze objects can be used as basic data in comparison researches on manufacturing technology, provenance of bronze objects to be found in the future.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.15
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• pp.52-58
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• 1994

To protect corrosion of bronze roofing tile for Choson Royal Historic Museum, lead coating on tile was performed by electroplating method with thickness of $35\mum$. Lead coated tile samples were inverstigated what corrosion products were formed with color changes on them by testing Accelerated Weathering. No sulfides were formed on samples contacting with 300ppm sulfur dioxide and any color changes were not found. In Accelerated Weathering test, White hydrocerussite, basic lead carbonate($2PbCO_3Pb(OH)_2$) having protective structure made of compact adhering crystals.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-169
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• 2010

This study focused on the material characteristics and archaeometric relationship between the molten glass and bronze materials within the crucibles and gilt-bronze Bodhisattva statue excavated from the Ssangbukri site in Buyeo, Korea. Yellowish green to red brown vitreous material in the crucibles was identified as lead glass which contained scarce amount of BaO, and low $Al_2O_3$ and CaO. Metallic molten material was identified as bronze of copper-tin-lead alloy with low amount of impurities that indicated well-refined materials. Also, cassiterite was used for raw metal ore of tin. The Bodhisattva statue consisted of major copper with trace impurities in the core metal, and gold amalgam in the gilded layer. Though lead isotopic analysis showed contradictory results in each lead glass, bronze and Bodhisattva statue that required further examination, it could be stated that the statue was made in the Ssangbukri site based on the high-level technical skills of bronze production.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.146-159
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• 2024

In this study, a study on the production technology of the Buddha statue and the production of raw material origin was conducted through scientific analysis on the Bronze seated Bodhisattva Statue of Goseongsa Temple, a treasure. As a result of microstructure analysis through a metal microscope, it was confirmed that the microstructure of the Bronze seated Bodhisattva Statue of Goseongsa Temple was a process-type dendritic structure, and the casting structure of bronze was well represented, so it was manufactured through casting. Subsequently, as a result of analyzing the alloy composition ratio through SEM-EDS, it was identified as a ternary alloy with 81.26 wt% of copper (Cu) and 16.42 wt% of tin (Sn) and 1.72 wt% of lead (Pb). The results of the analysis of lead isotope ratios using a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) were substituted into the distribution of lead isotope ratios on the Korean Peninsula, it was shown in corresponding to Jeolla-do and Chungcheong-do regions and North and South Gyeongsang Province. This suggests that the raw materials used in their production were likely sourced from the mines around Goseong Temple in Gangjin. Despite the fact that the statue is a medium and large Buddha with a total height of 51 centimeters, 1.72 wt% of lead (Pb) was found as a result of alloy composition ratio analysis, which showed a similar composition to the lead content ratio of small bronze and gilt-bronze Buddha statues. Therefore, we compared and analyzed the results of the analysis of the composition ratio of the alloys of bronze and gilt bronze statues, which has been scientifically analyzed with a compositional age similar to that of the Bronze seated Bodhisattva Statue of Goseongsa Temple. Comparison results, Various factors, such as the size of the Buddha statue as well as its stylistic characteristics and the age of composition, may exist in determining the alloy composition ratio of the bronze and gilt bronze Buddha statues, and it was confirmed that the alloy composition ratio or casting technology was properly adjusted when the Buddha statue was created. In other words, it is judged that a more comprehensive system of Buddha statue production technology should be investigated by conducting archaeological and art history studies on stylistic characteristics and age of composition, as well as scientific analysis results such as observation of internal structure, microstructure observation, and analysis of alloy composition ratio using radiation transmission irradiation.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.231-241
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• 2013

Analysis of the bronze bodhisattva from Pangyo-dong sites in Seongnam by computed tomography, ICP-AES, metallurgical microscope and SEM-EDS had to know manufacturing technique. And the origin of the raw material, was investigated using TIMS. Results with computed tomography, two bronze bodhisattva produced by lost-wax casting technique with hollow inside and could see the core of the inside. Result of component analysis and microstructure observation, material is alloy of copper-tin-lead and made by casting without artificial treatment. According to lead isotope ratio analysis result of bronze bodhisattva could be made into galena of the Gyeonggi massif in Korea South.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.340-356
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• 2021

We have tried the experimental research of lost-wax casting to reconstruct Gilt-Bronze Pensive Bodhisattva; preliminary and reconstruction experiment based on ancient texts. Main object to reconstruct is Korean National Treasure No.83, Gilt-Bronze Pensive Bodhisattva (Maitreya), then we measure alloy ratio and casting method based on the scientific analysis. Other impurities were removed from the base metal components(copper : tin : lead) and their ratio was set to 95.5 : 6.5 : 3 where the ratios for tin and lead were increased by 2.5% each. The piece-mold casting method was used, and piece-mold casting experiments were carried out twice in this study but supplementary research on piece-mold casting was necessary. The microstructure was confirmed to be typical cast microstructure and the component analysis result was similar to that of the prior study. Analysis of the chemical composition is confirmed to copper, tin, lead, and zinc, and the chemical composition of the matrix was 87.8%Cu-7.5%Sn-2.7%Pb-2.1%Zn, and similar to previous experimental research. Also resulted in the detection of small impurity in Zn. Analysis of the mould revealed that the mould was fabricated by adding quartz and organic matter for structural stability, fire resistance, and air permeability. We expect that our research will contribute to provide base data for advanced researches in future.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2014

This paper was researched that provenance of the raw material for bronze relics excavated Cheonghaejin using the distribution of lead isotope ratio based on galena ores of South Korea. Also we want to make sure that the trace elements appearing as a by-product can be used as a secondary indicator for provenance research. In the case of the galena map of the East-North Asia (Mabuchi, 1985), data are plotted in China area. Therefore it is estimated that most bronzes were produced with lead ore from China. On the other hand, the same data are plotted in the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt and Yeongnam Massif of the galena map of South Korea (KOPLID, 2012). Also the contents of Ag and Sb are available as indicator due to separate ores from similar zone in lead isotope ratio.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2019

Lead isotope ratios in horse-shaped bronze buckles excavated from the Songjeol-dong site in Cheongju and the mid-western region of the Korean Peninsula have been determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The lead isotope ratios of the samples with data provenance were plotted in zone 3 of the South Korean galena map. The results indicated that the horse-shaped bronze buckles could be made using galena located in the same area as the archaeological site. These results can be used as basic data for comparison purposes in future studies on the manufacturing technology and provenance of bronze artifacts.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.20
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• pp.23-30
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• 2007

By analyzing the chemical compositions of bronze mirror presumably excavated from Mireuksaji temple site, Iksan, we have surveyed what alloy composition was used in casting the mirror, and also tried to estimate the manufacturing technique of the bronze mirror, through the observation of microstructure, as well as which region$^{\circ}{\emptyset}s$ galena the lead used in the mirror belonged to, by analyzing the ratio of the lead isotope. The content analysis result of bronze mirrors shows that it consists of 68.8 to 73.3wt% of Cu, 21.6 to 24.9wt% of Sn. In particular, the content of Pb of Mireuk 2 and 3 Samples are higher than those of Miruk 4. The observation result of microstructure demonstrates that Mireuk 2 and 3 consist of ${\alpha}$ and ${\alpha}+{\delta}$ eutectoide phase made through casting process. But Mireuk 4 show other process employed, such as quenching though martensite structure. In the analysis result of provenance though the lead isotope ratio, the origin of the used in bronze millers excavated from Mireuksaji temple site is presumed to be from galenas of Japen, like this those, the chemical competition, microstructure, and lead isotope ratio of bronze mirrors excavated from Mireuksaji can be utilized at fundamental data to compare mutually with other remains.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.224-233
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• 2018

Thirty-three Early Iron Age bronzes at the sites of Hoam-dong in Chungju and Cheongsong-ri in Buyeo were investigated in order to study the manufacturing technique and the provenance of lead. Chemical analysis using X-ray fluorescence showed that 33 bronzes consist of copper(Cu), tin(Sn) and lead(Pb) served as major elements. Major and minor elemental analyses by EPMA were performed on two mirrors and 2 weapons of the bronzes investigated. The results shows that bronze mirrors from Chungju and Buyeo were high-tin bronzes(> 30 wt%). And 20% of tin and 5% of lead were founded in bronze weapons. Iron, zinc, arsenic, silver, nickel, sulfur and cobalt detected in four bronzes as minor and trace elements. The four bronzes were alloyed considering their function and were not heat treated after casting due to their high tin content. Lead isotope analysis using TIMS indicates that thirty-three bronzes were distributed southern Korea peninsula except Zone 1. As a result, lead raw materials came from various regions in Korean Peninsula not from Gyeongsang-do regions. The manufacturing techniques of bronze ware generalized at this age, and bronze was produced in various sites using raw materials from various sources.