Abstract:Various materials are involved in making inlaid cultural relics found in the Palace Museum. Inlay materials include all sorts of materialsgems, such as jade, glass, ceramics, bamboo, ivory, horn, pearl, coral, amber, shells, etc. The base materials are usually hardwood, lacquer and noble metals. Most of the inlay objects were cemented using sticky wax glue which was probably the most widely used binding material during the Ming and Qing dynasties to make inlaid objects. However, production of this sort of adhesive has already ceased. In this research, adhesive materials with different ratios of components were made according to recipes in the ancient literature and the advice of experts. First, the infrared spectrum of the modern adhesive was compared with that of the adhesive from a cultural relic; then the modern adhesive was tested for tensilestrength, shear strength and freezethaw resistance properties, in accordance with the national inspection standards of adhesive performance. The results of this phase show that the infrared spectral features of the sample are basically the same as those of the old adhesive from a cultural relic. The old adhesive is mainly a mixture of pine resin, beeswax and some oleaginous substance. The tensilestrength of the modern adhesive, with a rosin to beeswax ratio of 1to 1.5is 1.77 MPa.The shear strength is 1.26MPa. The tensile-strength after a freezethaw aging cycle is 1.87MPa. All the results indicate that this sample can satisfy the adhesive requirement of the inlaid cultural relics in the Palace Museum under normal room temperature.

Abstract:Acorn cups, black tea, pagoda tree buds and gardenia fruits are commonly used natural yellowbrown vegetable dyes. They are commonly used to dye matching papers used to restore paper cultural relics and to maintain old features. The durability and color stability of dyed papers influence the restoration cycle and the effects produced by the papers. Furthermore, these dyes may affect the stability of the cultural relic itself. In this research, the durability and the color stability of papers dyed using vegetable dyes were studied. Results show that papers dyed by acorn cups have good color stability and durability. Since solutions of vegetable dyes are acidic, deacidification should be done in order to avoid damage to the papers. After deacification, the pH values of the dye solutions rose and the paper color deepened, but it did not affect the usage of dyed paper. Moreover, by diluting the dye solutions, the color of the dyes and dyeing papers can be adjusted.

Abstract:After noncontinuous (aging 8h and interrupt 16h) and continuous ageing test, the pH values, tensile strength, and degree of polymerization (DP) of acidand alkalinepaper was tested. The depolymerization rate constant of various ageing test was calculated by the number average degree of polymerization in different times. Results indicate that under the noncontinuous ageing test, the paper''s pH values, tensile strength, and DP decreased faster than those of the paper under the continuous ageing test. The rate constant of various paper and under different ageing test was KA=10.75×10-3, KB=16.78×10-3, KC=3.75×10-3, and KD=8.36×10-3, respectively. The fluctuation of temperature can facilitate the aging of paper, so the paper should be conserved under the constant environment condition. The results confirm the significant role of alkaline reserve in paper for slowing the degradation processes induced by different accelerated methods.

Abstract:Yinghuang (hard and yellow) paper is a kind of waxedcoated paper appeared in the Tang Dynasty. The paper is yellow, bright, translucent, resistant to moth and water, hard and could be preserved for a long time. In order to understand its manufacture process, various physical and chemical properties of the Yinghuang paper were quantatively analyzed including surface smoothness and ink penetration capability. By combining literature research and simulation experiment method, the paper was tried to be reconstructed. The lab-made Yinghuang paper''s properties were examined to further investigate the manufacture process. The result of this article is valuable for the making of Yinghuang paper and for the study of its properties.

Abstract:Calligraphy and painting collections in the process of preservation often have creases, layers and fractures, which seriously impact the safety and the aesthetics of the calligraphy scrolls and paintings. The effect of paper thickness and winding diameter on the type of damage mentioned above is discussed, based on the results of physical studies. Furthermore, avoidance of these damages was also investigated. The results show that with the same winding diameter, the thicker the paper, the more likely paper will crease; with the same paper thickness, the smaller the winding diameter, the more likely paper will crease. Therefore, when storing a painting or calligraphy scroll, the best practice is to cover it with a protection layer and then to store it in a tube with large winding core. When displaying it the best practice is to install it by using a “Quick and Easy installation of the cylinder”. By removing the protective layer quickly, the object can be transferred to a hanging scroll with its antique appearance.

Abstract:The first museum to exhibits Six Dynasties relics will be built in Nanjing, so the ruin of City Wall of that period needs on-site conservation. Curtain grouting was adopted to block groundwater. Because the wall has been immersed in water for a long time, the effloresce of wall''s surfaces has accelerated. Organic silicone materials such as fluorinesilicone (S130), polysiloxane (pelicoat) and shortchain siloxane (methyltrimethoxysilicane) were tested to see if they are suitable conservation materials. These silicone materials were first applied on the samples in the laboratory. Results are evaluated based on appearance changes, contact angle, water absorption, water permeability,durability in complete immersion tests, appearance and quality changes in partially immersed tests. The results show that specimens after pelicoat and methyltrimethoxysilicane treatment are relatively good. Meanwhile, the hydrophilic nature of bricks and the waterresistance of organic conservation films have an effect on the test samples depending on the physical and chemical properties of the test samples. These two organic silicones may be useful as chemical conservation materials for treating the city wall. However, their applicability should be judged only after onsite experiments.

Abstract:As the only existing complex building designed according to the rites and patriarchal clan system of the Qing Dynasty, the Confucian Temple of Linshi, located in the submerged area of the Three Gorges Reservoir, provides much information about human activities, as well as important information of historical and research value. Based on documentary files and Confucian cultural materials, investigation and mapping of the temple were carried out in order to analyze its history, general architectural layout, individual building style and characteristic details. This study focused on the temple''s local Ba and Shu style features and its special construction techniques. The degree of damage to the temple was also investigated. This work provides fundamental theoretical and practical data for future relocation and protection projects.

Abstract:With the aim of protecting movable cultural relics, the response to oscillation of a freestanding museum cultural relic under earthquake conditions was studied mainly by shaking table tests. A 1∶1scale model of a showcase in the Palace Museum was built. A freestanding ceramic cultural relic was put in the showcase. Using white noise excitation, frequency distributions of the showcase were obtained. Then the seismic responses of both showcase and relic were studied by inputting 3different types of earthquake waves with different intensities. Using simulation methods, finite elemental models for the showcase and relic were built and modal as well as time history analyses were carried out to validate the efficacy of shaking table tests. The results show that prominent frequency ingredients of the showcase are between 29to 35Hz,which were far from those of input earthquake waves; thus the showcase is not damaged seriously, For the relic itself, when input earthquake intensity is low, it is relatively stable, but when earthquake intensity increases, its response to oscillation becomes obvious, and it even overturns under strong earthquake conditions. Thus the simulation results are good in accordance with those of shaking table tests, which proved efficacy of the test method. In real cases, i.e., for movable cultural relics with a large heightwith ratio, measures have to be taken to reduce its amplitude of oscillation.

Abstract:The origin of ore is a key issue in bronze age archaeology. It has also been one of the most difficult studies. By comparing isotope ratios of lead found in ore beds and those from bronze, the researcher can sometimes identify the source and origin the bronzes. This study used the MAT262thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) to detect the isotope ratios of lead contained in bronzes from the Lijiaba, Xiaotianxi, Daping and Yujiaba sites in the Chongqing area. The results indicate that Pb in the bronze alloys is common lead, and that the ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb are 17.46～18.67,5.56～15.85and 36.78～39.39, respectively. Except for two data sets, all results have good overlap and fall within a narrow range, indicating the same origin of the lead material. Furthermore, the isotope ratios of lead contained in bronzes from the Chongqing area match those of Pb-Zn deposits in the SichuanYunnanGuizhou PbZn mineralization district, with the results being especially close to those isotope ratios of Disu and Daliangzi PbZn deposits. The results suggest that lead ore used for bronze in Chongqing during the East Zhou period came continuously from the same location. The results also suggest that the bronze smelting site of the Ba people is independent from that used from the early Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring Period.

Abstract:The Shenmingpu site (No. 2004.HN.X.A5) is located in Nayang city, Henan province. The site is on the south bank of Danjiang River of Shenmingpu village, Xichuan county. Excavated iron artifacts include kettles, pots, ring swords, sword, ploughshares, spades, cutters, lamps, adzes, rings, mat weights, etc. These artifacts date from the Warring States period to the Qing Dynasty,which is a long span of time. But most of the artifacts are dated to the Han Dynasty. Metallurgical analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Xray Microanalysis(SEMEDS)were applied to analyze iron fragments removed from more than 14pieces of iron artifacts, including farming tools, weapons, implements, and culinary artifacts. The results show that farming tools and weapons were decarbonized during the solid stage to meet the requirements for hardness, strength, and tenacity.While cooking containers such as iron kettle and pot were cast in the same way as white iron, mottled iron and gray cast iron were cast. The findings indicated the existence of high levels of iron smelting and casting technologies during the time periods from the Warring States period to Han Dynasty in the Nanyang area.

Abstract:Chinese black painted, white based porcelain, because of its decoration style, has been a focus of porcelain historians, scientists and enthusiasts. The Linshui kiln (also known as the Cizhou kiln) and Jiexiu kiln both produced black painted, white based porcelains. These two klins are closely related. Few scientific analyses of porcelains from these two kilns have been done. Therefore, comparative studies of them are lacking. Petrographic analysis, SEMEDS, etc. were used to analyze the body, masking clay and glaze of porcelain from these two kilns. The results showe that, the bodies of both are high in Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, but low in SiO₂, which made the porcelain look grayyellow, but the porcelain from the Jiexiu kiln contains more Al₂O₃. They both have masking clay. The results further show that there are two layers of masking clay in samples from Jiexiu kiln but only one layer in samples from Linshui kiln. In the case of the Jiexiiu kiln, the masking clay near the body (h1) contained more Fe₂O_3and TiO_2than the masking clay near the glaze (h2); in the case of the Linsui kiln, Fe₂O_3and TiO_2levels of the masking clay fall in between h1and h2. The results also indicate a high calcium glaze with porcelain of Jiexiu kiln, but an alkalicalcium glaze and calciumalkali glaze with porcelain of Linshui kiln. It is not difficult to realize that, based on the single layer of masking clay technology in Linshui kiln, that the Jiexiu kiln, with two layers of masking clay, had advanced the technology and produced better black painted, white based porcelain, even using coarse raw materials.

Abstract:Yangshao painted potteries excavated at the Dagujie site in Hengshan County were analyzed in order to determine the region of production, firing technology and technological and cultural exchange, Xray fluorescence (XRF) and thermodilatometry were used on pottery fragment samples to measure the chemical composition and firing temperature. Some samples were also tested for compressive strength using a material testing machine. The results reveal that the clay is collected locally and that the potteries are consumed locally. The pottery has relatively high Al₂O_3content; its reddish surface is due to a high Fe₂O_3content. The firing temperature is about 950~1050℃. This research result provides important information that will be useful for further conservation and restoration.

Abstract:There are a variety of painted cultural relics from the Han Yangling (Yang mausoleum of the Han Dynasty), some of them were in great condition when unearthed but some of them, however, were in bad shape. To conserve these relics scientifically, microscope and xray diffraction (XRD), based on literature information, were used to study four categories of relics. Results show that (1) The pottery warrior with painted clothes only has one pigment layer ; The earthenware and the wooden horse have three layers:putty layer, lacquer layer and pigment layer; (2) The lacquer has two or three lacquer puttylinen layers, more than two lacquer layers and two or three color layers;(3) The red pigments on the pottery warrior and the wooden horse are ochre; The red pigment on the lacquer ware is cinnabar. It is suggested that the polychromes with lacquer should be protected by preserving its moisture during excavation while doing conservation focused on shrinkagepreventing and consolidating of the object.

Abstract:In order to characterize intensities of small,irregular and frail lacquer films during conservation process, a fixture was developed in the lab. Together with a universal material testing machine, this fixture tool was used to quantitatively test intensities of lacquer films before and after softening. The experiment results show that a lacquer film from a lacquer coffin unearthed from a Ming Dynasty tomb in Shaanxi province was softened in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200. The lacquer film intensity was obviously enhanced,and the restoration result was good. The work provides a scientific guidance for softening and restoration of lacquer ware which is unevenly saturated with water unearthed from the dry area of the North China.

Abstract:It is sometimes necessary to clean gilt statues to restore their appearance so as to coordinate with similar statues. However, there are risks of damaging the object''s surface and of leaving residues on the object using traditional mechanical and chemical cleaning methods. Cleaning a gilt statue by using an advanced laser cleaning technology was pesented. A method using a vertical laser through liquid membrane was employed to clean a gilt bronze statue. The laser light parameters were:λ, 1064nm,power, 155~165,Qdiv10, and an energy density in the range 0.30~0.50J/cm². After cleaning, the contour lines of the body and face of the statue became much clearer, with the statue having the sheen of gilt. The ancient handicraft techniques were fully revealed. The cleaning effect was evaluated by visual inspection and three dimensional microscopic examinations. The laser cleaning method has the advantages of high efficiency, safety and controllability. This experiment confirmed that laser cleaning is compatible with this batch of gilt bronze statues, and provides a useful reference for cleaning other gilt bronze objects.

Abstract:In order to promote the use of microbiological theory and technology in the field of protection of cultural relics in China, and to keep Chinese protection of cultural relics in line with advanced, international practices, the causes and mechanism of bacterial damage to the watersaturated archaeological wood are reviewed. This review includes both domestic and foreign references related to microbiological studies of objects of cultural heritage. Bacteria that cause erosion, tunneling and cavitation were considered to be the major bacterial pathogens in the watersaturated archaeological wood. However, the damaging mechanisms of theses pathogens differ from one type to another. In Europe, identification of bacteria in watersaturated archaeological wood is commonly based on microscopy, electron microscopy, bacterial culture and many other molecular biological methods and techniques. Based on the results of this review, a qualitativeindex system for evaluation of decay in watersaturated archaeological wood is suggested. Furthermore, a scenario is described for the application of microbiology for the protection status of watersaturated archaeological wood in China. Implementation of related research is urgently recommended.