This study aims to characterize the material of the finishing materials used in the No.1 stone chamber tomb of
the Baekje-era tumuli in Songjeri, Naju with mineralogical, chemical, and physical analyses. The finishing material
is a mixture of white lu...
This study aims to characterize the material of the finishing materials used in the No.1 stone chamber tomb of
the Baekje-era tumuli in Songjeri, Naju with mineralogical, chemical, and physical analyses. The finishing material
is a mixture of white lumps and fragments, presumed to be shells, that remain on the surface and between the
gaps of the stone walls inside the tomb. The analysis results revealed that the main constituent mineral of the finishing material is calcite. Infrared spectroscopy showed peaks due to calcium carbonate, and thermal reaction decarbonation in the 700-800℃ range, high calcium content, and loss on ignition were confirmed. Therefore, the main material of the finishing materials was determined to be lime, and since no aggregates such as sand or gravel were found, it was identified as lime paste. The shell fragments mixed into the lime paste appear dark blue or grayishwhite in color, with no original shape remaining. The surface has a layered structure, and microscopic observations revealed prismatic layers with a columnar structure and nacreous layers with a consistent orientation, suggesting that
the shells are from bivalve mollusks. Additionally, X-ray imaging of the shell fragments showed holes and tunnels
caused by boring marine organisms both on the surface and inside, and radiocarbon dating results confirmed that the dating of the shells was consistent with the construction period of the tomb. It is concluded that the finishing material used in Tomb No. 1 in Songje-ri, Naju, was lime paste mixed with shell fragments, and the lime was made using the shells of bivalve mollusks as the raw material.