Abstract:In order to study the effect of carbonation conditions on the hydration of natural hydraulic lime (NHL), and to allow people to realize how carbonation conditions influence early strength and curing ages of NHL mortars, samples under different carbonation conditions were prepared to simulate the process. The composition, structure and morphology of samples were analyzed by XRD, IR, TG and SEMEDX at various stages of curing. The results showed that the hydration of NHL forming Ca(OH)₂ and calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) proceeded simultaneously with the carbonation of Ca(OH)₂ and CSH. Overall, the carbonation rate of Ca(OH)₂ was larger than the formation rate of Ca(OH)₂ from the hydration reaction. At first CSH transforms from a small, fine needle structure to thick rods as curing age increases; then at a certain age, the crystals became smaller, and eventually disappeared being incorporated into the calcite. It is concluded that carbonation of hydration products promotes the hydration of NHL, a conclusion has never been reported before.

Abstract:The materials, colors and ages of nine handeddown jade ornaments carved with a scene of spring or autumn hunting in collected in the Shanghai Museum were studied by optical microscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), microinfrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Xray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) to analyze the distribution of colors, chemical compositions and mineralogical characteristics. The results show that the main mineral component of nine jade samples was tremolite; two of the samples had been artificially dyed, with the dyeing materials being related to beewax. Based on these results combined with archaeological findings and literature, it is suggested that these handeddown jade ornaments carved with a scene of spring or autumn hunting could be dated from Jin to Yuan Dynasty. Furthermore, considering the shapes, decorative patterns, technical characteristics and colors, it is concluded that two of the jade samples with faked colors belonged to Yuan Dynasty. This is an attempt to use both liberal arts and science for the identification and dating of handeddown jades.

Abstract:The species of bacteria from an archaeological sample of waterlogged wood and the water environment, and the degree of degradation of the wood using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, as well as physiological and biochemical tests were studied. Then representative bacteria were selected to test their degradative effects on heartwood of pinusmassoniana. Bacteria at a concentration of 5×10⁸/bottle were diluted with sterile water and then used for inoculatation. The test samples were cultured for 120 days at 37℃. The results showed that thirtytwo strains of bacteria were separated from waterlogged wood sample F455. Twentynine of them belong to the genus Bacillus.The remaining three strains of bacteria are Brevibacterium, Brevundimonas and Alcaligenes.The dominant genus in the waterlogged wood sample F455 was Bacillus. Twentyseven species of bacteria belonging to nine genera were isolated from the water samples. The diversity of bacteria in the water was greater than in the wood samples. Nine of them belong to the genus of Brevibacterium, five are Altererythrobacter, four are Brevundimonas, three are Alcaligenes, two are Flavobacterium, and one each of Bacillus,Leucobacter,Paenibacillus and Ochrobactrum. Fourteen typical bacteria were selected to test their degradative effects. Nine strains of bacteria had significant differences compared to the control. It was found that some bacteria caused degradation but that the rate was low (the highest 1.56%). It was also found that these bacteria did not cause severe degradation of pinusmassoniana. This study also analyzed the effect of bacteria on wood lacquer when the waterlogged wood was stored in a sink for a long time. The results of this work benefit theories of waterlogged wood protection.

Abstract:The manufacturing process and materials used for carvedlacquer fragments were studied by using optical microscopy, FTIR microspectroscopy, SEM and micro laser Raman, Xray fluorescence, and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy. This research provided scientific data to enable understanding the process used for manufacturing ancient Chinese lacquerware and its protection and restoration.This study suggested that the bottom layer was wood of Cunninghamia Lanceolata. The base of the lacquer coating on the bottom layer was a mixture of kaolin (Al₂O₃·2SiO₂·2H₂O) and animal hair. The inside and outside lacquer layers were black and red, respectively. In addition, the outer lacquer layer was carved into Ruyi moire shape,on the edge of which a black lacquer line was inscribed. The lacquer was finished by brushing a layer of red lacquer on the topmost surface of Ruyi moire. The red and black lacquer layers were made from the same natural raw lacquer, but were mixed with HgS and a black pigment containing Fe, respectively.

Abstract:Types of microscopy were used to observe morphologies, and SEM/EDS was used to analyze compositions of three groups of Ming and Qing Dynasty metallic threads.The metallic strips, substrate, thread cores of these metallic threads were investigated. The differences in morphology, structure, dimensions and materials are compared and investigated. The manufacturing techniques used and quality grades of the three groups of metallic threads are discussed. It was found that metallic threads were selectively used according to decoration needs, textile function and their cultural attributes. The highest grades of metallic threads are those made using a high gold content foil, having a silk core, and as finely made thin threads. These threads were used for high grade, both functionally and culturally important, textiles. In addition metallic threads lacking back layer were considered better than the threads with the back layer. This research is valuable for metallic thread analysis and could be used as reference.

Abstract:Hyperspectral cameras can simultaneously collect high spatial resolution and high spectral imaging when used for making closeup photographs. As a nondestructive testing method, hyperspectral technology can make some indistinguishable patterns visible. In this article, hyperspectral camera was used to analyze a Qing Dynasty painting, Lundaotu (“Discussion of doctrines”) by Zhang Shibao. Digita land hyperspectral images were collected, using a model VNIR400H camera. The image and the handwriting were enhanced by using MNF(Maximum Noise Fraction), PCA (Principal Components Analysis) methods and a mask and finally a highresolution image was created. As a result, it is found in this painting two hidden messages that could not be seen with the naked eye.

Abstract:Sacrifice was one of the most important activities in the daily life of ancient Chinese people. Due to the limited materials found, there is little analysis of civilian sacrificial culture in spite of a large amount of research on sacrificial practices of the elite.Sacrificial pits with many broken pottery shards, common in the region of Yue culture,were found in the tombs at Lanyuanlingsite,Guangzhou. The site is dated back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770B.C.~476B.C.). In this paper, charcoal and phytoliths in the soil fill of several tombs and related sacrificial pits were extracted and analyzed. It is found that the ancient people had consciously burnt, as offerings, several kinds of plant that yielded fanshaped,elongate, rectangular or spherical crenate phytoliths. Comparison with similar findings at other archaeological sites, suggests that the special sacrificial customs of ancestors at the Lanyuanling site might have absorbed cultural practices of Miao tribes,but they may have been adapted to suit local conditions, and materials. This research provides profound information for exploring the religious rituals of ancient people. Furthermore, charcoal and phytolith analysis offers a new research paradigm to confirm sacrificial relics containing burnt plant sacrifices.

Abstract:After hundreds or even thousands of years of natural, human and material degradation, the structural elements of wood buildings and the bowpieces of corbel bracket nodes have suffered different degrees of damage. These wood parts often need to be repaired. The modulus of elasticity under static bending conditions is a significant factor that needs to be considered when selecting materials for the repair of wood buildings. In order to find a more suitable material for reinforcing or repairing ancient buildings, a bending residence test is developed for evaluating the radial, tangential and slant directions of five types of wood. A mechanical testing machine and a selfdeveloped force sensor were applied to record the correlation between the stress and displacement of the five types of wood using a resistance strain gauge. From the correlation between load and displacement, the modulus of elasticity in static bending can be calculated separately. Through measurement and analysis of the five types of the modulus of elasticity in static bending of wood, the change of density can be compared by the same moisture content of the modulus of elasticity in static bending of wood. The results show that the same wood can have significantly different values of static elasticity bending when bent at different directions. The larch has the highest average modulus of elasticity when bent in different directions,compared with other woods tested. It was also found that the higher the wood density, the higher the modulus of elasticity in static bending.This test results provide the references for the maintenance,reinforcement and alternative replacement of the timber structures.

Abstract:Most of the Tibetan wall paintings are brushed with a protective coating on their surface. According to the literature, the coating materials are mainly tung oil, animal glue and varnish. But until now, little scientific research on these materials has been reported, which is not helpful for the conservation and restoration of Tibetan wall paintings. In this article, coating samples obtained from the surface of wall paintings in Labrang Temple were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹Hnuclear magnetic resonance and Pyrolysisgas chromatographymass spectrometry. The results indicated that the material for the coating of wall paintings in Labrang Temple was a kind of drying oil similar to tung oil. The materials and techniques employed in the making of Tibetan wall paintings, as well as ageing and coating of wall paintings in Labrang Temple made it more complicated and suggested different properties from the modern tung oil.For conservation and restoration, drying oils with properties closer to the traditional Tibetan coating materials, e.g.tung oil, could be used as a conservation material for the coating of wall paintings in Labrang Temple.

Abstract:Abstract:The precious long black bamboo scroll by Xia Chang is part of the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum collection. The painting had been broken into four pieces with top stick falling off. The head wrap, reel pieces and paper trim were worn out. The painting needed urgent restoration. In order to avoid damage, a pH meter, a color difference meter, a super depth focus screen microscope, a fiber measuring instrument, a scanning electron microscope and a portable Xray fluorescencespectrometer were used to analyze the painting and decorative materials. These detailed investigations gave much information about the previous decorations and help in developing a scientific and reasonable restoration process.

Abstract:Xinjiang is located in the west of China; it has a dry climate and four distinct seasons.Therefore, the relic collections in the museum face a unique environment. Compared with the other regions in our country, the atmospheric environment in Xinjiang is much drier, which is beneficial for keeping and protecting cultural relics. To better preserve the paper mural collections in the museum, data based on temperature, humidity, air pollution, dust, light, insects , microbes and other environmental factors were surveyed. Based on the results of this study, the conditions used for preservation of paper murals were analyzed and plans to better protect them were proposed. Proposals include improved illumination, control of the lighting strength inside the exhibition cabinet, elimination of pollutants caused by harmful lighting, use of air purifiers and the use of acidfree paper for wrapping. These actions can effectively prevent damage to paper murals arising from harmful gases, and therefore can protect the collection.

Abstract:As an important material found in traditional Chinese jade culture, nephrite jade encompasses eight thousand years of history and development throughout all of China. Research on ancient nephrite jade objects display the phenomenon of partial or complete whitening, but research on mechanism of this phenomenon remains scarce. This paper is a comprehensive and systematic review on the mechanism and characteristics of the whitening phenomenon of nephrite jade, including the weathering of raw materials and how heating has altered artifacts. The thermodynamics of heated nephrite jade is also summarized. The various forms of weathered or altered nephrite jade are discussed. It is speculated that both human behavior and natural conditions lead to the whitening of jade.

Abstract:Research on Goryeo celadon is of consistent interest in Chinese Academia.Historical literature is a very important reference material for research on the exchange of ceramic objects between China and South Korea.This paper explores the development and spread of Chinese celadon making techniques in the Korean Peninsula. The research is based on scientific data and literature from Korea, China and Japan. The literature includes the official Korean history record, “The History of Goryeo” and collected works of Korean scholars, such as “The official records of Korean dynasties” and “The collection of prime minister Li of the Eastern Country” by Li Kuibao.

Abstract:The development of murals reflects custom, religion, philosophy, esthetics of different nations in various historical periods. Furthermore, murals are also greatly associated with politics, economics, culture and technique of the period. Therefore, ancient murals have very high historical, artistic and technical values. Tomb murals first appeared and became part of the funeral culture during the Han Dynasty. Han tomb murals evolved and formed a complete system since the early Western Han Dynasty. The system expressed profound and complicated ideas about religion and funerals. The murals enriched and shaped the design, the technology and the expression of Chinese paintings. Therefore, tomb murals occupied an important place in painting history and intellectual history of early periods. This essay systematically summarizes numerous publications related to tomb murals from more than 10 periodicals since 2015. The distribution and characteristics of mural paintings, and the various ways of preserving mural paintings were studied. Suggestions on future work related to tomb mural conservation were put forward.

Abstract:With the rapid development of computer and related technologies, and the restoration using photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning, virtual reality technology has begun to play an important role in the protection of ancient buildings.However, the shortage of funds and lack of personnel has restricted development and utilization of digital methods for protection of cultural heritage objects. In order to better protect and make good use of the Norbulingka complex, it is necessary to improve the understanding of methods of digital protection and reconstruction, to enhance the sense of crisis, and to establish a complete digital record of the ancient architecture at Norbulingkain order to assure its protection. A digital file is needed on the characteristics of the building, its internal structure and its impact on the surrounding environment. It is necessary to create a comprehensive digital platform for the promotion and exhibition of Norbulingka as a cultural heritage site.