Analysis of Microbiological Contamination in the Chosun Dynasty Textiles Exhumed from Hwasung Kupori Burial

The purpose of this research was first to analyse and compare the types of microbes inherent among the unwashed and washed Kupori textiles, and second to investigate whether there is a difference between unwashed and washed Kupori textiles on the susceptibility of contamination by microorganism when exposed to the same microbial environment. Microbial identification procedure and the Shake Flask Test for investigating the effect of exposure to microbial environment were carried out separately. The result of microbial identification procedure indicated that a variety of bacteria and fungi were inherent in both unwashed and washed textiles and that the population of contaminated microorganism became more diverse after washing. The result of Shake Flask Test indicated that given the same exposure condition, the unwashed textiles tend to be more susceptible to bacterial contamination than the washed textiles. The results of the present study supported the current conservation procedures adopted in Korean museums which include washing and humigation procedures before long-term storage or display of exhumed textiles.