복원실험을 통한 철정(鐵鋌)의 제작과 공정별 생성물의 변화 양상 연구

Abstract

The “smelting-smithing” system is the most frequently applied technology in the ancientiron-making sites of Korea for preparing iron tools via the smithing of the bloomery iron producedby smelting. In this study, using the smelting-smithing method, we conducted a restoration experimentto produce iron bars from iron ore. The characteristics of the iron materials and slag obtained fromeach process in the method were identified, and the possibility of applying these characteristics tothe interpretation of archaeological data was investigated. The shape and compositional hierarchy ofthe iron materials could be determined according to the progress of the method by analyzing thehammerscale obtained throughout the experiment. In the case of smithing artifacts within the sameruin, it would be helpful to understand the relative relationship. The effect of improvements in thephysical properties of the iron bar as folding proceeded was confirmed. However, a layered structurethat was not related to folding was also identified. Thus, checking not only the layered structure butalso the elongation or miniaturization of the non-metallic inclusions is necessary when observing themicrostructure of iron artifacts to determine their exact manufacturing technique. The lineararrangement of La and Ce, which are rare-earth elements, in the iron ore, iron bar, and slag wasconfirmed, but additional verification of the iron ore and flux from other sources is necessary. In futurework, we will examine the possibility of classifying the lineage of iron materials by obtaining moredata.