Abstract:Akaganeite (βFeOOH) is the main corrosion product of archaeological iron artifacts after excavation. Deionized water and 0.5M NaOH solution were used as desalination solutions.The effects of chloride removal solutions on both poorcrystalized and wellcrystalized βFeOOH arediscussed. It was found that the dechloridation efficiency of 0.5M NaOH solution is better than that of deionized water and that 0.5 NaOH Msolution can promote the transformation of poorlycrystalized βFeOOH to αFeOOH; however it is difficult to promote the transformation of wellcrystalized βFeOOH. The study provides a reference for methods and timing of dechlorindationof archaeological iron objects.

Abstract:As one of the most important discoveries in early stage of Chinese archeology , Zhonghuo cemetery has yielded a large number of bronze objects representative ofthe Spring and Autumn Period. This paper presents the results of a preliminary examination of 17 bronze objects from this cemetery. The results showed that casting wasthe principal production process.In addition, hot forging and cold processingwas used. The principal materials used incasting vessels were ternary CuPb alloys. Someof weapons and tools were made with a CuSn binary alloy.This study shows that the producers were capable of choosing different materialsto make appropriate products.

Abstract:The use of corrosion inhibitors is now an effective way to protect iron coins. The volatile corrosion inhibitor,compound WB1, was studied in terms of inhibition performance, and by Xray powder diffraction, Xray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This study showed that WB1 can be adsorbed and form a film on the surface of rusty iron coins so as to prevent harmful ions from permeating into the coins. Moreover, it can accelerate the transformation of rusty scale and had good inhibition performance for rusty iron coins without changing the appearance of the relics, thus meeting conservation demands.

Abstract:Light is one of the main environmental factors that cause fading of dyed silk. To evaluatethe fading of dyed silk undermuseum lighting, this study measured the difference in colorof dyed silk samples before and after light exposure tests. The silk samples were dyed by seven vegetable dyes such as madder, Caesalpiniasappan, gardenia, berberine, gromwell, pagoda tree buds and indigo usingtraditional methods. The light test lamps were those commonly used in museums,including LED lamps, fluorescent lamps and halogen lamps.The results were analyzed by measuring the light emission spectrum in combination with light reflectance spectrumof dyed samples. From these tests several conclusions were drawn. Because the emission spectrum of halogen lamp has its lowest energy at longwavelength its effect on fading for the various dyeing silk samples are the lowestlower than common LED and fluorescent lamps. The light of 3000K color temperature causes less fadingthan 4000K color temperature light. Because the different dyes are sensitive at differentwave lengths, there are differences in thedegrees of fading for various types of lighting. So in order to better protect cultural relics, museum lighting should be designed with consideration of the light emission spectrum characteristics of the museum objects. Specialty museum lighting should be researched and developed.

Abstract:Xuan paper is an important material used for restoration of Chinese painting and calligraphy, but its quality has been affected by changes in the production processes in recent years. In order to understand the applicability of different Xuan papers, six different Xuan papers were tested and evaluated. These six Xuan papers are Hongxing (RedStar) 02, Hongxing 08, Hongxing 14, Wangji 13, Hongxing superpure and Hongxing ancientstyle. The evaluation parameters include basic properties, sizing stability, softness and durability.The results showed that all six Xuan papers are slightly alkaline. Hongxing 02 (Xuan paper produced in 2002) performs better than those papers produced later; Hongxing ancientstyle (Guyi Xuan paper), produced by traditional processes, also is of better quality. In order to extend the life span of paintings and meet the needs for conservation, a new kind of Xuan paper produced by traditional processes should be developed.

Abstract:Wood carving with lacquer and gold gilding is a traditional craft of Southern China. In this study, Xray fluorescence,Ramanspectroscopy,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and crosssectional analysis were employed to determine the paint layer and wood material of a lacquered and gilded wood carving from the Qing Dynasty now at the Shen zhen museum. Based on scientific analysis of the preservation situation of the wood carving, a conservation and restoration plan was made. Thesurface was cleaned. Mold was removed and pests werecontrolled. Cracks and incomplete parts were repaired.The peeling lacquer layer was softened and replaced. Lacquer and gilding layers were repaired and restored as an antique. After the treatment, the wood carving was restored to a complete overall state with good color, structure and stability, achieving expectations. The analytical and conservation methods reported here provide agood reference forconservation of similar objects.

Abstract:It is difficultfor ancient leather to survive underground, so few leather relics have been excavated in China.Most of them have been found in the dry burial conditions that are found in dry climate of places like Xinjiang and Gansu in Northwest China. These archeological leathers are good materials to learn about the life of ancient peoples. The deterioration of dry archaeological leathers, including the internal and external causes, before and after excavationare discussed in this paper. Internal causes include the nature of leather and the tanning process; external causes are the soil conditions of the burial site and the preservation conditions after excavation. The process of conservation of dry leather from Wubao Tomb of Xinjiang province was used as an example in this paper. Methods used in the conservation of archaeological dry leather are introduced as well.

Abstract:The main soluble salts saltdamaged soil sites aresodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄). Thecrystallization of salts isthe main destructive force in the process of salt damage, and sodium sulfate is the most destructivesalt. Traditional views suggested that the crystal formand volume change of sodium sulfate upon crystallization take place only when temperature andhumidity change. the status of salt damage in several typical soil ruins was investigated and several samples were analyzed to determine the mechanism of formation of harmful salts and their internal causes in the soil ruins, from micro tomacro levels.This study shows that the changes of sodium sulfate, both in the morphology, size and structure, were profound and continuous. The sodium sulfate volume expands about 4.2 times when it crystallizes.It is confirmed the external manifestations of the above microscopic mechanism in soil sites with macrolevel observation in a serious of simulation tests.

Abstract:With the aim of reinforcing the soil in earthen ruins, anondestructiveinfrared imaging technique for studying soil conditions was explored. Thedisturbed soil samples of various physical conditions collected from the Jiaohe Ruins site were tested to determine the coefficient of thermal conductivity. Through analysis ofthe relationship between soil surface temperature and time,using unsteady state heat conduction theory, the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the soil was calculated. To verify reliability of this method, which measures coefficient of thermal conductivity of soil by an infrared imaging technique, the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the same soil was measured using thermal analyzer KD2 Pro.The difference between two test methods is small. This demonstrates the feasibility of measuring the coefficient of thermal conductivity of soil usingthe infrared imaging technique. The effect of different dry densities and moisture on the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the soil was studied. The results showed that if the dry density is increased, the coefficient of thermal conductivity of soil with constant water content is increased, too; if the water content is increased, coefficient of thermal conductivity of soil with a constant dry density is increased too.

Abstract:To scientifically preserve the earthen city wall site of JianKang from the Six Dynasties in Nanjing, the structural performance of the earthen wall sites strengthened with anchor rods was analyzed with ANSYS. The relationship between the structural safety of the earthen wall site and important parameters including the length, angle diameter and spacing of anchors, thegrade of the side slopeand water content were then investigated.The structural safety factors and the optimal technical parameters for the anchor reinforcement of the earthen wall site were determined. In order to verify the accuracy of theoretical analysis and construction feasibility, pullout tests of anchor rods and tests of grouting materials.Finally, based on theoretical analysis and test studies, an adaptive design for strengtheningthe earthen wall site with stainless anchor rods and modified mud grouting was proposed.

Abstract:In order to determinethe geophysical characteristics and physicalstate of the ancient city walls, which areunder different conditions, and to exploretheeffectiveness ofan integrated method to visualizeancient city walls, A survey using a variety of methods was conducted. It included, primarily, electric resistivity tomography (ERT),magnetometry (MAG), ground penetrating radar (GPR) and γrayspectrometry. Combining thesegeophysical method results with 2D and 3D data processing and display technology, the location and the geophysical characteristics of the ancientcitywalls were successfully detected. To reduce ambiguity in interpretation, approaches to integrating multidimensional geophysical data were also examined. Finally, the geophysical models of the different walls were summarized, and optimal combination methods for further study were proposed. These includeERT and GPR for the west wall, MAG and ERTfor the southeast wall and ERT and GPR for the north wall.The results show that application ofintegrated geophysical methodsis the preferred technology for the archaeological exploration of the ancient city walls.

Abstract:To minimize the interference and damage toearthen sites during relocation, a partition method for machine cutting is proposed for the first time, with consideration of traditional smallblock artificial digging and partitioning technology. In connection with relocation of the Guangfulin culture site “F12 site”, special cutting machinery was designed and produced. This paper presents a preliminary study on the application of mechanical cutting in earthen site relocation projects with a particular focus on key technology, such as horizontal cutting speed, tractionforce and mechanical machinery. This technology was successfully applied in the relocation of “F12 sites” project.The results show that machine cutting technology can be applied to site relocation and protection. It can reduce number of the partitionsand damage during relocation without obviously changing the earthen site. This work provides support and reference for similar projects.

Abstract:The“South China Sea I” has been submerged for more than 800 years,and the porcelain on it has been corroded by seawater,marine organisms and marine sediments,leading to diseases like salination, soil erosion,defects etc. In this study two pieces of porcelain from different kilns were selected,and their states of preservation, craftsmanship and disease were studied. Chemical solvents like alcohol, acetone and citric acid as well as ultrasonic cleaning were used to remove the absorbed salt and surfacesoil erosion of the porcelains.Following the principle of using identifiable restorations and leaving the cultural relics unchanged, Epoxy glue, talcum powder and acrylic resin paint were used to repair the porcelains, thus obtaining a satisfactory restoration result.The research techniques described in this paper are beneficial for the longtermpreservation,exhibition and display of the objects, and, in addition,provide a reference for the preservation and restoration of a large number of porcelains currently in the same conservation environment and having the same diseases.

Abstract:Because of frequent earthquakes in recent years, one of the top concerns about the Qin Terracotta Warriorsis the safety of terracotta army figurines placed directly on the ground. The moving or shaking orientation of figurines under the influence of seismic waves was studied withthe aim of preventing earthquake damage. This paper describes measurement of the center of gravity of each terracotta warrior using the principle of moment balance. Then a preliminary calculation was made on the critical seismic acceleration of each pottery figurine. The limit of antioverturning seismic acceleration has been calculated, according to the shapes of the pottery figurines. Furthermore, the reliability of results has been verified, providing basic data for seismic alarm and protection of the Qin Terracotta Warriors from earthquakes. The advantages and disadvantages of the measurement methods and the potential forfurther study are also discussed in this paper.

Abstract:The paper used in calligraphy and painting relics easily grows paperdamaging mildew during the preservation process. the mildew from paper relics was identified by means of molecular biological methods. Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus carneus, Penicillium oxalicum, Paecilomyces varioti Bainier, Eurotium rubrum, Penicillium Chrysogenum, and Coprinellus radians were identfied.The study is valuable for planning antimold treatments for the conservation of paper relics.

Abstract:More than a hundred lacquerware objects have been unearthed from Fengpengling M1 in Changsha. In order to study the process of manufacturing, and the methods of protection and repair of these lacquers, multiple samples were analyzed to determine moisture content and paint film and lacquer ash composition, and wood tree germplasm, by variousmethods. These studies showed that the moisture content of woodbody lacquer wares is higher than bodiless lacquer wares,and that the wood in the woodbody lacquerware is Nan wood or Zi wood (catalpa) of several sizes. The paint film at the bottom is thicker than at the top. In paint films, the red pigment was HgS, the black pigment was C,the white pigments were mainly Ag, and the gray pigment was SiO₂ & CaO.

Abstract:All over the world, collections of bone and antler relics are maintained because oftheir cultural and historical value in archaeology, anthropology and art history. However, the preservation of this group of cultural relics needs more attention because of the long history of these objects, the changing environment and natural mineralization. This article aims to summarize the status of research on the craft, deterioration, conservation and preventive protection of bone and antler relics. In addition, the problems and demands in these areas of protection are also discussed. In China, the conservation of bone and antler relics from watersaturated environments needs immediate attention. The prevention of weathering of oracle bones is a key topic. Furthermore, the preservation of bone and antler relics dating back to various periods all over the country is a major task.

Abstract:Serpentine jade is an important material carrier of traditional Chinese jade culture.Similar to that of nephrite, the weathering mechanism of serpentine jade has also attracted great attention. Partialor full whitening has been found on theserpentine jades unearthed from prehistoric periods to the modern agethroughoutChina.Based onrelevant archaeological, mineralogical and materials science research, two possible causes (manmade heating and natural weathering) of the characteristics and mechanism of whitened serpentine jade,are discussed in thispaper. This study attempts to ascertain the thermodynamic processes and natural mechanism that cause whitening of serpentine jade. The results of this work not only help to ascertain human and natural behaviors that result in the whitening phenomenon, but also serve toguide the scientific conservation of them.