The Scientific Analysis of the roofing tiles excavated at Gyeong Bok Gung

경복궁 출토 기와의 자연과학적 조사 연구 - 소주방지, 흥복전지, 함화당지, 집경당지 출토 -


Abstract

Roofing tiles are very important archaeological artifacts which show science, architecture of that time, as well as information about the culture. It has been studied by many researchers steadily, but only focusing on archaeological, art historical and architectural study, so it is very difficult to find natural science research. Gyeongbokgung's roofing tiles were excavated from the ruins of same site, however glaze, body colour and shape of tiles are very diverse with the naked eye. Through natural science research which analyze the chemical composition and physical characteristics of roofing tiles's body and glaze examine the physical and chemical characteristics of each roofing tiles. the result of analazed roofing tiles is following. when roofing tiles were classified by 전암대자율 and chromaticity, each group has part of some matches. When you compare with green gazed traditional brick's glaze of Silla period, Gyeongbokgung roofing tiles have more $Al_2O_3$ and less PbO than Silla period's. We can see the technology of increasing firing temperature is better. and glaze colour depends on content of $Fe_2O_3$ and CuO. A lot of CuO tend to be more blue.

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