IR and py/GC/MS examination of amber relics excavated from 6th century royal tomb in Korean Peninsula.
Relics of amber were excavated from King Muryeong's tomb constructed in the 6th century on the Korean peninsula. To estimate the provenance, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and py/GC/MS (pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) analysis were utilized. The reference Baltic amber sample was also analyzed with the same method for comparison. The relics were confirmed to be amber from the FTIR analysis where an absorption band near 1150cm(-1), characteristic one in Baltic amber, was also observed. In py/GC/MS analysis, pyrolyzed products like butanedioic acid and dehydroabietic acid, known constituents of amber, were observed. In addition, d-fenchyl alcohol, camphor, borneol and butanedioic acid, typical constituents of Baltic amber, were observed in some samples. From this, it appears that some of relics were made from Baltic amber and that Baltic amber was transported to the Korean peninsula in the time of tomb construction.
Restoration Technology Division, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, 132, Munji-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34122, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jongseo71@korea.kr.
Jongseo
J
Park
Conservation Science Division, National Museum of Korea, 137, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04383, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dalsan81@icloud.com.
Eunyoung
E
Yun
Conservation Science Division, National Museum of Korea, 137, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04383, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: akdntm0457@hanmail.net.
Hyungtae
H
Kang
Collections Management Division, National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, 198 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03141, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jyan0501@korea.kr.
Jooyoung
J
Ahn
Department of Cultural Heritage conservation Science, Kongju National University, 56, Gongjudaehak-ro, Gongju-Si, Chungcheongnam-do, 32588, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: Kimgh@kongju.ac.kr.
Gyuho
G
Kim
Amber relic; FTIR; GC/MS; King Muryeong's tomb; Provenance; py