Siegfried Siegesmund - Monument Future

The conservation treatment for the fossil sites was conducted by selecting three sites around the fossil sites and classifying them into supplementing and reinforcing cracks. As a result of supplementing cracks using epoxy type L-30, L-50 and KSE-500, L-30, the treatement revealed a relatively better effect in strengthening the physical properties than the other two adhesives. OH 100 and KSE 300 showed a similar effect; after conducting a pre-treatment of anti-swelling and applying two types of consolidation reagents three times, it was found that OH 100 was relatively stable.

The measuement of ultrasonic wave velocity at each site was performed to monitor the effect of the trial preservation treatment and revealed that the average values before the treatment(2,091 m/s) was increased to 2,394 m/s after the treatment. In particular, the Sanghanyeom-21, Hanyeom-30, and Gaemesom-31, which had belonged to the CW stage, were upgraded to the HW stage due to the ultrasonic wave velocity increase after the preservation treatment. Although a short-term effect can be expected for outdoor fossil sites, it seems necessary to apply additional measures, coupled with a conservation treatment, in the long run (Fig. 7).

Figure 7: Trial conservation treatments and monitoring for effects of the dinosaur egg fossil sites in Hwasung Gojeongri. (left) Resin treatments within the cracks, (middle) Reinforcing the surface and (right) Effect monitoring by ultrasonic velocity.

Lee, C. H. and Jo, Y.H, 2017, Correlation and correction factor between direct and indirect methods for the ultrasonic measurement of stone samples, Environmental Earth Science, 76:477.

Lee, Y. N., Jeong, K. S., Chang, S. K., Choi, M. Y., Choi, J. I., 2000, The preliminary research on the dinosaur eggs and nests found in the reclaimed area south to the Siwha Lake, Gyeonggi Province, Korea, Journal of the Paleontological Society of Korea, 16(1), 27–36. (in Korean with English abstract)

Lee, Y. N., 2003, Dinosaur bones and eggs in South Korea. Memoir of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, 2, 113–121.

Lee. S. J., 2009, Study on the consolidating mechanism of stone monuments containing clay minerals with swelling properties. Ph.D. Thesis, Kyeongju National University, 1-110 (in Korean with English abstract).

Zhao, Z. K., and S. R. Ding. 1976. Discovery of the dinosaur eggs from Alashanzuoqi and its stratigraphical meaning, Vertebrata PalAsiatica, 14, 42–44.

203

Hee Young Park 1 , Sun Young Park 2 , Chan Hee Lee 2 * , Jun Hyoung Park 2

IN: SIEGESMUND, S. & MIDDENDORF, B. (EDS.): MONUMENT FUTURE: DECAY AND CONSERVATION OF STONE.

– PROCEEDINGS OF THE 14TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON THE DETERIORATION AND CONSERVATION OF STONE –

VOLUME I AND VOLUME II. MITTELDEUTSCHER VERLAG 2020.

1Chungbuk Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Cheongju, 28443, Republic of Korea

2Dept. of Cultural Heritage Conservation Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju, 32588, Republic of Korea

* chanlee@kongju.ac.kr

The Stone Standing Buddha and the Stone Chamber of Mireukri temple site in Chungju is a semi-built artificial stone grotto temple that inherited the Gyeongju Seokguram Grotto (AD 751) in South Korea. It was designated as Korean Treasure No. 96 in recognition of its value as a cultural heritage site like the huge Stone Standing Buddha (10.6 m in height), a unique architectural structure.

However, the Stone Chamber had problems with its structural stability as its masonry was constructed after being built on top of weathered granite, where the original ground sloped to the west. Due to continuous creep, the structural deformation was clearly visible in the western wall of the Stone Chamber in 2014, which was decided to be dismantled in 2016. Currently, the dismantling and repair work is in progress on all sections of the western wall and some sections of the southern wall.

With the repair work, an overall conservation scientific investigation including non-destructive diagnosis for the Stone Standing Buddha and Stone Chamber was carried out. As a result, the main rocks that make up this study subject are pinkish medium-grained biotite granites, which as Wolaksan granite. The deterioration assessment on the Stone Standing Buddha indicated moderate conditions for all types of damage. However, in the analysis of surface contaminants, there was a singularity that the content of lead on the statue’s face was measured to be relatively higher than other parts.

The physical evaluation by ultrasonic velocity showed third grade deterioration (moderately weathered – MW) in the Stone Standing Buddha, while the Stone Chamber before dismantling was shown to be fourth grade (highly weathered – HW). Finally, by examining petrographic homogeneity with granitic rocks in the surrounding area, it was found that the rocks around Mireukri in Chungju and the quarry in Mungyeong are highly similar with those of the study subject.

Keywords: Mireukri temple site, Deterioration, Creep, Nondestructive diagnosis, Petrographic homogeneity

The Stone Standing Buddha and the Stone Chamber, that is the main Buddha and Geumdang (the main temple) of the Mireukdaewonji, are located in 204Mireukri, Chungju City, Korea. The Mireukdaewonji is one of the important Buddhist temples in the Goryeo Dynasty (AD 918 to AD 1392) of ancient Korea. Within this cultural heritage zone, various stone cultural heritages such as the Five-story Stone Pagoda in Mireukri (Treasure No. 95) are widely distributed.

The Stone Standing Buddha is composed of six stones and is surrounded by masonry on three sides: east, south, and west. It is presumed that there was a wooden structure on the upper part of the Stone Chamber, but is no longer present (Ryoo, 2018). There is no exact historical record of when it was destroyed.

The temple’s history and name were revealed by conducting five excavation surveys from 1977 to 1991 (Kim, 2008). Since then, various art historical and archaeological studies have been carried out on the stone chamber structure, the only Stone Standing Buddha facing north in Korea, the form of the Bogae (a kind of stone hat), and the hand gestures holding a flower bud-shaped object (Jeong, 2008). On the other hand, conservation-related scientific investigation was not sufficient, and only visual observation of the physical, chemical and biological factors and surroundings was conducted.

With obvious structural deformation occurring in the western wall of the Stone Chamber, dismantling and repair work is currently underway (Fig. 1). In addition to this, to prepare the basic data for conservation and maintenance of the Stone Standing Buddha and Stone Chamber, a need for the scientific investigation has emerged. It is also required to examine the substitute stone for damaged parts of the Stone Chamber. Therefore, we expect that the results of this study will provide the basic data for the establishment of the long-term conservation management plan and the provenance interpretation for stone heritages.

Figure 1: Photographs showing the dismantling and repair work of the Stone Standing Buddha and Stone Chamber in the Mireukri temple site. (A) Before 2015, (B) March 2018, (C) March 2019.