Abstract:With the 2012 discovery and excavation of the Jingdezhen Lantian Kiln, a large number of green glaze porcelain pieces were unearthed. By sorting and researching the ceramic relics and the kiln site, experts have come to believe that the Jingdezhen Lantian Kiln one of the earliest celadon kiln sites found so far, and that part of the celadon were made in the Tang dynasty. Therefore, research on the celadon made in the Lantian Kiln during the Tang and Five dynasties should play a vital role in understanding the development of early Jingdezhen celadon. For this reason, the research objective of this article is the Tang and Five dynasties celadon from the Jingdezhen Lantian Kiln. EDXRF and dilatometry were used to analyze the compositions and technological characteristics of 24 samples of Lantian Kiln celadon from the Tang and Five dynasties. This research provides information about the early development of celadon production at Jingdezhen.

Abstract:The main color in the glaze of most Jun ware is a large range of blues. In order to investigate the origin of the blue glaze color and its change in hue, seven pieces of ancient Jun ware were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy and Ultraviolet-visible spectrometry. The results show that Fe²⁺ is the dominant colorant in the Jun glaze and that the higher the Fe²⁺ concentration, the higher the saturation of the blue color. Phase separation is also observed in the Jun ware glazes. The big droplets endow the glaze with a greenish hue with higher luminosity, which finally weakens the iron blue color. The blue color of Jun ware glaze is a result of both its chemical composition and the microstructure, in other words, a consequence of both the absorption and scattering of the light.

Abstract:Polyethylene glycol (PEG 2000) was used as bulking and consolidating agent to treat an archaeological camphor tree excavated at the Homutu Ruins. The excavated sample was used to study the drying characteristics of decayed, waterlogged wood in a natural environment. The results indicate that decayed, waterlogged archaeological camphor tree dries in two stages resulting in:a rapid mass decreases in the initial period and a steady slow mass decreases in the later period. In the initial period, the mass ratio m/m₀ and the natural seasoning time are in accordance with the equation m/m₀=-kt+c. The experimental data fits well with linear curve. A transition period exists between the two stages when the PEG 2000 concentration is increased. The higher the concentration of PEG 2000, the more obvious the transition process became and the size of the wood stabilized as the drying process approaches the end. When the PEG 2000 concentration reached 70%, the shrinkage rate of longitudinal and radial planes decrease significantly, but the shrinkage rate of tangential plane is still relatively significant. The color of the wood gradually deepens with an increase of PEG 2000 concentration.

Abstract:The Shenzhen Museum has collected a large number of polychrome wood carvings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Most of them have been made from Chinese cedar (Phoebe Zhennanin) and camphor wood. The woodcarvings have dense growth rings and a fine, smooth texture, rendering them resistant to deformation or cracking. These polychromes share some typical features of the wood carvings of the South China and are of significant value for collection and research purposes. However, due to the influence of all kinds of natural and human factors, many of these carvings have been affected by problems such as cracking, insect infestation, wood degradation, flaking and detachment of the paint layers, etc., warranting urgent conservation treatment. This work is based on the investigation and analysis of each specific type of damage and its cause. The condition of wood preservation is also considered before initiating treatment. The best treatment plan, including selection of materials and conservation technique, is selected based on experimental results. After treatment, wood carvings are intact, morphological stable and showed minimal colour change. The results are very good and serve as examples for the conservation of similar ancient polychrome wood carvings.

Abstract:The Chengdu Commercial Street boatcoffin burial site is a major archaeological relic of the ancient Shu and also the largest boatcoffin burial site ever found. In order to effectively protect unearthed coffins, it is neccsary to scientifically anlysis the preservation status of the coffins. Elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Xray diffraction were used to analyze changes in chemical composition. The results show that the unearthed coffins have high carbon and nitrogen but low oxygen and hydrogen contents. The coffins have almost completely lost their hemicellulose and have a low cellulose content. The relative content of lignin has increased. The macromolecular chains of cellulose have degraded and the cellulose crystallinity has been destroyed. Therefore, it is necessary to reinforce these coffins to avoid shrinkage, cracking and deformation that may occur during the dehydration process.

Abstract:The Qing Dynasty Xiaobaijiao I Shipwreck, located in the sea near the Yushan Islands, is 26 nautical miles away from Shipu Town, Xiangshan Country, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. It was discovered in 2008 and it was planned that it would be fully excavated in 2014. In order to determine its characteristics, investigate the shipbuilding technology and draw up a conservation program, 19 samples were taken from every part of the shipwreck, including the keel, rib, bulkhead, hull etc., and sent out for tree species identification. The results show that the Xiaobaijiao I is constructed mostly of hardwoods such as Dipterocarpaceae, Verbenaceae and Sapotaceae. These trees usually grow in the tropical areas of Southeast Asia and are rarely found growing in China. The timbers used on the Xiaobaijiao I are unlike those on archaeologicallyimportant ancient ships previously found, and the identification of the wood provides useful information for conservation work after excavation.

Abstract:Contamination by mold is a major potential risk for ancient Chinese calligraphy and paintings on display in museums. The isolation and identification of these microorganisms is helpful for developing a useful approach to control deterioration. In this study, the traditional pure culturedependent method was performed, and 8 strains of mold were isolated from the paper paintings. In addition to typical mold characteristics, they were identified by ITS sequencing. The results of the morphological and molecular biological investigations show that Aspergillus spp.,Rhizopus spp. and Trichoderma spp. are present in these in these specimens.

Abstract:After thermal aging, the pH values and degree of polymerization (DP) of untreated and treated typographic papers dated to 1946,3 and 2005 were determined. Results indicate that the pH values and DP of treated paper from 1946 is the lowest, and that deacidification improves its durability. It is not recommended that paper of low acidity (high pH) be subjected to deacidification. Rather it should be conserved under a constantly stable environmental condition.

Abstract:Modern microscope technology is a crucial research tool for the study of paper cultural relics. Through microscopic observation and analysis of several paper cultural relics, a variety of information, including surface morphology and other properties of paper fibers, and information about the papermaking process are acquired. External and dispersed fiber images, as well as the length, and width of fibers and their ratios are obtained. Microscopy is a useful tool for obtaining information about the age and origin of paper cultural relics and for guiding efforts to preserve them.

Abstract:Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) are important environmental air pollutants that pose a threat for cultural relics. NO_x does not only cause enormous damage, but it also enhances the corrosion induced by other pollutants such as sulfur oxides (SO_x) and organic acids. The rate of removal of low concentrations of NO_x by the adsorption onto biomass and by photocatalysis was studied. These studies have shown that although the direct use of biomass such a fir sawdust, larch sawdust and bamboo can remove moderate levels of NO_x, NO_x removal efficiency is increased 75% using bamboo charcoal made by carbonization at 520 C. The photooxidation efficiency of NO_x decreases with increasing flow rate, and the efficiency of NO_x removal changes slightly when organic acids are combined in the inlet stream of NO_x. Different combinations of photocatalysts and adsorbents were compared, and the optimal combination reduced the NO and NO₂ levels to 1.98 and 1.80μg/m³, respectively.

Abstract:To find effective supporting methods for freestanding cultural relics in museums, the aseismic behavior of a cultural relic supported by traditional methods was studied by shaking table tests. Based on the actual size of a showcase in the Palace Museum, a 1:1 scale model was built. A light ceramic cultural relic was put in the showcase by freestanding mode. Five traditional methods were considered for supporting the relic:decreasing the center of mass of the relic using sand, plastic fastener support, tying with nylon lines, application of plasticene and magnetic attraction. Shaking table tests were then carried out to validate the various supporting effects. Using white noise excitation, the basic frequency of the showcase was obtained; by inputting earthquake waves of different type and intensity, seismic responses of both the showcase and he relic were studied. The aseismic results using these five traditional methods are discussed. The experiments show that prominent frequency ingredients of the showcase are far greater than those of the input earthquake waves, which is the main reason why the showcase is not damaged seriously. The experiments also show that although acceleration of input earthquake waves are still focused on the relic after it is supported by any of the five methods, the peak acceleration and displacement values decrease, and the probability of the relic being overturned due to over large oscillation decreases greatly. In addition, nylon line tying and plasticene methods are best so far as far as mitigation of the acceleration response value is concerned.

Abstract:The feasibility of isolation protection of a stone Buddha with a heightwidth ratio of 5.6 under seismic condition is discussed in this paper. First, based on standard formulas, the isolation coefficient and bearing stiffness range for the Buddha were determined under seismic conditions. The primary isolation bearings vs. time was studied by numerical simulation. It can be concluded that sufficient attention needs to be paid to historical relics such as an unfixed Buddha with large heightwidth ratio in the high intensity region because of the existence of hidden dangers of their seismic performance. Furthermore, isolation bearings can be utilized with structures having large heightwidth ratios, such as stone Buddha, in order to produce a significant isolation effect. These ideas,have reference value for similar projects.

Abstract:Ink stains have been left on the stone surfaces of many nonmovable stone relics because of ink rubbing, a traditional activity by Chinese scholars. Are these ink stains harmful to the rock of these cultural relics and do they need to be removed during protective repair? This has been one of the problems that protection workers need to solve. In order to prevent stone relics from weathering, people try to coat them with chemicals, only to find results are not ideal or even prove to be destructive. An attempt was made to seek the answer to this question scientifically by measuring the degree of preservation in known cases of existing well preserved ancient stones. This work is one of a series of protective materials performance studies for cultural relics. Through field investigation and laboratory corrosion studies, the protective effect of Chinese ink left on the stone relics is explored. In experiments with an air pollutant, SO₂, and soluble salts, it is found that ink can prevent damage from air pollutants to some extent. Also it provides some protection from damage due to crystallization of soluble salts. Water absorption studies and microscope analysis suggest that ink can fill micro cracks of rock and therefore lower its ability to absorb water, preventing soluble salts from entering and crystalizing inside the rock and thus reducing weathering.

Abstract:Water seepage damage is prevalent at the Lei Gutai grotto of Longmen grotto. To better understand the mechanism of water seepage, 149 discontinuities at this area were investigated. Taking these discontinuities as sample parameters, a 3D rock discontinuity network model was built, which aids the study of rock mass innerbody connectivity. Using this discontinuity network it is found that the major connective path at Lei Gutai consisted of three group discontinuities:one stratum (trending NNW) and two high dip discontinuities (trending) and that their degrees of connectivity are up to 87.1% and 83.6% at middle and south parts of Lei Gutai, respectively. Combining these results with the 3D model, inside and outside field discontinuities are investigated, and finally developed a mechanism for water seepage formation at the Lei Gutai grotto. The north grotto has two discontinuities, J12 (trending SE) and J4 (NNW), that pass through the No.2 reserving rainfall platform, which allows surface runoff to infiltrate into the upper rock mass of the grotto. Next, the internal discontinuities, trending south east (SE) and south west (SW), stretch upward and intersect with J12 and J4. Consequently, surface runoff along those internal discontinuities seeps into the north and middle grottos. J12 and J35 control the entrance of surface runoff into it, and many internal discontinuities, trending SW and SE, connect with its seepage channel. When it rains, surface water permeates into the top of the grotto through J12 and J35, and then flows through internal discontinuities onto the internal surface of the grotto. For the south grotto, considering mountain is deficiency, rainfall cannot infiltrate into the grotto along with stratum, and water arriving into internal surface is from the interval of manual brickwork and mountain, and discontinuities such as J11 (trend SE), J31, J30 (trend SW). Once rainfall through these cracks infiltrates unto the grotto above, internal connective discontinuities of south grotto (most trend SW) will guide water seeping to its surface.

Abstract:Fourteen Taiping Heavenly Kingdom murals in Tangzijie in Nanjing had been preservation before. In order to make the murals in a better condition for exhibition, on-site preprotection is done, the murals are moved, conserved and restored in laboratory based on comprehensive onsite survey and restoration information collection. Paraloid B72 and Primal AC33 as mature protective materials for the murals were used to reinforce the murals. Steam cleaning and laser cleaning were introduced to the mural's surface cleaning. Pasting wood pulp paper and prebrushing ethanol were also employeed as methods to improve the repair technique. A good result is achieved after conservation and restoration of the murals. The process can provide references for similar murals.

Abstract:In order to trace the provenance of ancient turquoises artifacts, many foreign scholars carried on extensive research, and made a lot of important achievements, especially in the United States. Research was classified into three distinct stages by reviewing documents. First stage was based on archaeological excavations and status quo survey to speculate about the producing area; Second stage was characterized by application of modern equipment and tools to gauge turquoise's trace elements. Characteristic profiles such as minor elements were analyzed by method such as Raman spectroscopy. The third stage is to analyze isotopes of the elements contained in the turquoise, and then determining the origin of turquoise. At the present stage the third scheme has been so successful that it has spawned imitators. Hydrogen, oxygen, strontium, lead and copper stable isotopes have been detected, and in practice, using different combinations of these isotopes seems to work well. Current researches in America was summarized which can provide valuable reference to the further works in China.

Abstract:The technology of 3D printing has demonstrated its efficiency and convenience in various fields, becoming a hot spot of society. Because the technology of 3D printing has the feature of noncontact scanning, for those who are engaged in restoration of cultural relics, it is a new method that is worth introducing to protect high valued pottery and porcelain whose material are vulnerable during the process of replication and restoration. After briefly introducing the major process of pottery replication through 3D printing technology, further explore every step with details are explored, the advantage and disadvantages of different printing technologies are compared, including liquefaction printing and powder printing, and the choice of printing technology made in different demand is analyzed. Furthermore, this article also shows how to complete the entire replicate through staining the surface of the replicate and delicately handling the decoration on the surface after the 3D printing replicate is got. 3D printing technology can be applied to not only on replication of cultural relics, but also on restoration of heritages since it is nondestructive, efficient and precise when compared to traditional restoring methods.

Abstract:Early 2013, in line with the digitization of ancient books, conservators at Anhui Provincial Library began to repair “Records of Successful Candidates in the Enrollment of Palace Examination in the third year of Zhengde,Ming Dynasty”. After analyzing its preservation condition, relevant information suggestion from restoration expert is collected. A plan to repair the document was proposed and carefully carried out. The repairing work is proved satisfactory. This paper mainly discusses the following topics:principles of restoring ancient books, flexible usage of “to repair the old as the old”, data recording of restoration and other related issues. This research on repairing work can provide relevant references to repair such kind of ancient books.