• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.15-19
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• 1999

Three wood coffins of Chosun Dynasty period buried about 450 years ago were excavated in the sound condition in Andong area in the early 1998. The proprietors of wood coffins were grandparents, Mr. Myoung Jong Lee and Mrs. Mun, and their grandson, Mr. Eung Tae Lee, and the social standing of their family was known to belong to the nobility in those days by the clan genealogy. All the wood coffins investigated through light microscopy had same anatomical characteristics as follows: abrupt to somewhat abrupt tracheid transition from earlywood to latewood; normal longitudinal and horizontal resin canals with thin-walled epithelium; tylosoids in resin canals; bordered pits frequently in 1 row on radial walls of tracheids; 1 or 2 window-like pits per cross-field; uniseriate and fusiform rays; heterogeneous rays composed of body ray parenchyma cells and marginal ray tracheids or homgeneous rays composed of only ray tracheids; dentate ray tracheids; occasional trabeculae traversing tracheids in radial direction. Based on theses microscopic characteristics, all the wood coffins were identified to be Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) or Korean black pine (Pinus thunbergii). Korean black pine growing naturally in coastal area might not be probable because the site of excavation, Andong area, was mountainous and inland area of Korea Thus, Korean red pine was thought to be the possible species for the wood coffins because of its natural distribution through the Korean Peninsula and the easy availability.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.406-414
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• 2013

This study aims to date wooden coffins excavated from graves in Shinnae-dong, Seoul, South Korea, using dendrochronology. The species of woods used to make the coffins were identified as Pinus densiflora S. et Z., one of the major conifers in Korea. Of 12 graves, 10 were successfully dated using various red-pine chronologies of South Korea. Due to the absence of the last-formed tree ring before felling, the number of sapwood rings, used to obtain likely cutting dates, had to be estimated. The terminus post quem for two coffins without plaster frames were AD 1548 and AD 1571, respectively. Eight coffins with plaster frames yielded estimated dates from AD 1664 to AD 1799. The tree-ring dates indicated that the coffins with plaster frames in Shinnae-dong were constructed approximately 100 years later than those without plaster frames.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2009

The study was carried out to analyze wood quality of coffin board, the wood species of coffin excavated in Youngdong, Korea. All coffin woods were identified as hard pines, Korean red pine(Pinus densiflora S. & Z.). According to wood quality of coffins, inner coffins of Bae Cheon-Jo and his wife showed similarity and dissimilarity comparing with several literatures. The similarity was in the structure of panels, bottom lining board and charcoal layer, and the dissimilarity was in jointing. From the analysis of fibrous materials attached to coffin woods, the paper mulberry and cotton fibers were identified. In the inner coffin of Bae Cheon-Jo, tool traces by handle planer were observed.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2011

The purpose of this study were to analyze the species and tree-ring dates of coffin woods excavated at Yerim site in Yesan, Chungnam, Korea. We sampled 12 pieces of woods from two coffins. The species of all coffin woods were identified as red pine group, most likely, $Pinus$ $densiflora$. The last rings of both coffins were dated A.D. 1557 and A.D. 1601, respectively. The tree-ring dates indicated that the coffins were made in the late 16th and early 17th century.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.39
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• pp.5-38
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• 2006

Although in Korea there are only three examples of wooden coffins being found in burial mounds - from the Daho-ri, Songhyun-dong, and Munyung tombs, in Japan data on the shape and structure of wooden coffins from the Gofun era is relatively abundant. The wooden coffins of the Gofun era of Japan can be classified into either the dugout log style or the combined boards style according to their method of manufacture. They can also be divided by shape, into such categories as the boat shape, the split bamboo shape, the box shape, and so on. The box shape category can be further divided into the assembled type and the nailed type, according to how the boards are put together. Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) was favored as coffin-wood in all ages, but during the later Gofun era easily obtained woods such as the Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) or the Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) were also used. The coffins found at Daho-ri and Songhyun-dong are similar to the Japanese dugout log style in shape and manufacture, while the king's and queen's coffins excavated at Munyung Tomb are seen to have had direct influence on the appearance of nailed coffins Japan. The coffin in Songhyun-dong 7th mound was originally a dugout log boat. It was probably used for practical reasons such as the bugproof, anti-corrosion qualities of camphor wood, not because of ideological reasons such as in a boat burial (in which the boat takes the deceased to the after world). Because the Changnyong region is inland, where camphor trees do not grow, using an already existing boat may have been the only way to procure a camphor-wood coffin. From historical circumstances, it may be inferred that the camphor trees were imported into Korea from Japan, between which there was much cultural exchange.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.2 no.2 s.2
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• pp.3-14
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• 1993

This study was carried out to identify the species of wooden coffins excavated from ancient kings' tombs of Nakrang and Pro-Three-Kingdoms to the beginning period of the Three Kingdoms, and the private tombs of the middle stage at the Yi dynasty. The species of wooden coffins were identified as three softwoods(Thxus cuspidata, Sciodopitys verticillata, Pinus densiflora) and six hardswoods(Quercus acutissima, Quercus serrata, Zelkova serrata, Platycarya strobilarea, Alnus japonica and Morns spp.). Thxus cuspidata, wooden coffins of Nakrang kings' tombs, is distributed through Korea. However in previous examination it was known as Cunninghania lanceolata, native species in south China. Sciodopitys verticillata used as a wooden coffin of King Muryung's tomb was native to Japan. It was a material evidence proving the cultural exchange between Paekche Kingdoms and Japan in those days. Pinus densiflora was the species of wooden coffins excavated from private tombs in Yi dynasty, which was not found out from Pro-Three-Kingdoms and Three-Kingdoms. Quercus accutissima was used for making a trough shape wooden coffins at Daho-ri ancient tombs and Quercus serrata was used a outer wooden coffin of Nakrang kings' tombs. An adamant iron mongery might be used to manufacturing a trough shape wooden coffin. This indicates that a developed iron-manufacturing technics existed in Korea at that time. Zelkova serrata was used for making wooden coffins of Imdang and Kaya ancient tombs, Chunma and Hwangnam king tombs. Platycarya strobizacea was used for making wooden coffin of Daegok-ri, Alnus japonica for Daho-ri coffins and Morus spp. for Imdang coffins.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.274-280
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to identify the species of coffin woods excavated at Mundangdong in Gimcheon and to date this coffin by using tree-ring method. All coffin woods were identified as red pines, most possibly, Pinus densiflora S. et Z. Tree-ring dating provided absolute years of 3 among 19 coffins. Both I-9 and II-22 coffins were estimated to be made in the mid-seventeenth century, and I-65-1 in the mid-sixteenth century. Others possessed too few rings to be dated.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2021

This study aimed to conduct tree-ring dating and analysis of the materials used for the wooden coffins excavated from the ruins of Sipjeong-dong, Incheon. The tree species for the 10 wooden coffin materials was identified as pine. For accurate tree-ring measurement, the cross section was polished using sandpaper. The annual ring width was measured with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. Since the five materials were consistent with each other in dendrochronology, a representative annual ring chronology of 83 years was prepared. The prepared representative annual ring chronology was compared with the standard annual ring chronology, and the outermost ring of the wooden coffin was confirmed to correspond to the year 1575, suggesting that the wooden coffin was produced in the late 16th century. In addition, microscopic observation and FT-IR analysis revealed that the fibers attached to the surface of the wooden coffin were fibroin (Silk), and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Py-GC/MS analysis showed that the paint left on the surface of the wooden coffin was lacquer.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.157-162
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• 2006

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.78-89
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• 2021

Organic residues analysis is an analysis method that reveals the types of organic material samples by using the characteristic that main components constituting substances are different depending on the species of animals and plants. In this study, scientific analysis of the organic residues attached to wood coffins in the Joseon Dynasty Hoemyo excavated from the site of Singok-dong, Uijeongbu was used to identify the types of remnants and to use them as information to restore the uses of organic materials and the way they lived in the past. As a result of FT-IR analysis of the residue attached to the inside of the wood, it was estimated to be a natural plant resin material. In addition, as a result of analysis by GC-MS to confirm the characteristic factors of natural resins, diterpenoids (abietane) and pimaran (pimarane), such as dehydroabietic acid and pimaric acid (diterpenoid) compounds, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acid components were detected together. Diterpenoid compounds are components mainly found in Pinaceae resins. It is confirmed in the literature that rosin, a representative material of Pinaceae resin, was used as an adhesive material. Considering the situation where an organic material remained at the joint of the wood, the organic material attached to the wood is judged to be an adhesive material made of Pinaceae resin. In addition, the fatty acid component detected together is a component derived from plant oil, and it is presumed to be made by mixing rosin and oil as recorded in previous studies. This study confirms that organic residues remain in the burial environment without losing their characteristics. It is expected that scientific analysis of organic residues will be conducted in the future to accumulate information necessary for the interpretation of past living culture.