- The Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Publishing a comprehensive research report, The Special Exhibition with the restored horse armor -

The Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (the GNRICH, Director Lee Jong-Hoon), under the Cultural Heritage Administration, published a research report 『An investigation report on a horse chamfron and a horse armor excavated from wooden coffin tomb no. X-C10 at the Silla ancient tomb site in Jjoksaem area, Gyeongju』. This report is a decade of intensive research resultofa horse armor identified from the wooden coffin tomb excavation survey at no. C10 in Jjoksaem,Gyeongju in 2009.

A set of the horse armor was excavated in its complete form without being robbed. Hence, it received great attention. The horse armor was neatly laid out in complete form in the order of neck, chest, torso (130cm x100cm) and buttocks from the West to the East. Moreover, a bit, a saddle and stirrups were unearthed together, and those items contributed to understand of Silla’s horse-riding culture.

The GNRICH made headline in 2009 when they exceptionally conducted emergency conservation treatmentto protect up to 740 pieces of the horse armor and carried out archaeological investigation at the same time. A temporary building was built to maintain temperature and humidity and prevent internal pollution. Furthermore, HVAC facilities such as cooling and heating were installed so that the building maintains a constant temperature as much as possible.Meanwhile, 10-30cm of pebbles (pebbles trimmed by the current that had been in the stream for a long time) were identified in the soil. The GNRICH also conducted simulation tests on soil of similar components in advance for taking the horse armor safely out in perfect condition. As a result, 28 tons of the horse armor and surrounding soils could be excavated without damages.

After the excavation was completed, the GNRICH conducted practice, preservation and research on the horse armor for 10 years and this report is its intensive collection of all the records and efforts.

This report contains the results of the X-ray and minutely explains details of each part of the horse armor in archaeological point of view. In addition, the reportshows the on-site inspection, transfer and preservation process of the horse armor, which took about 18 months.

Based on the Scientific Conservation Research, the research identified the types of fabric such as silk and hempwhich deposited on the surface of the armor. Moreover, there was possibility confirmed that wood used in the wooden chamber was red pine trees based on traces of wood. Such a detailed comprehensive report on the horse armor of the Three Kingdom period was the first in Korea. The report provides a restoration for the horse chamfron, its armor and harnesses. For restoration of the horse armor, the research analyzed the ways of connecting and putting on and also examined the unearthed harnesses such as a bit, a saddle and stirrups together.

The GNRICH produced a life-size replica of horse armor based on this comprehensive study report. As a preliminary work, the GNRICH first produced a plastic replica of the same size as the pieces of horse armor. Then, they chose a ‘Jeju Hanla horse’ for the horse armor size and analyzed its activity after putting armor on the horse. In order to confirm the precise installation of the actual replica, measurements of ‘Jeju pony’ and horse bones unearthed from Wolseong moat sites were analyzed together. The horse replica, which was produced based on the restored horse size data, was also actively utilized to equip the replica of horse armor.

The final replica, which reflects these results, will be used to show the structural features of the horse chamfron and its armor, the way of connection and putting on the armor specifically and effectively.

The GNRICH plans to hold an exhibition in the first half of this year with this report and the replica of horse armor. Therefore, academia and scholars as well as the public can see the ancient Silla horse-riding culture. Moreover, the GNRICH will continue to research further on the Silla horse-riding culture and itsuses.

The『An investigation report on a horse chamfron and a horse armor excavated from wooden coffin tomb no. X-C10 at the Silla ancient tomb site in Jjoksaem area, Gyeongju』 will be distributed to research institutes and local governments in Korea and anyone can read it through the websites of the CHRICH (http://nrich.go.kr/gyeongju).

Photographs

<『An investigation report on a horse chamfron and a horse armor excavated from wooden coffin tomb no. X-C10 at the Silla ancient tomb site in Jjoksaem area, Gyeongju』>

<View of Jjoksaem area in Gyeongju from Cheomseongade>

<The exposed horse armor at tomb no.C10 in Jjoksaem, Gyeongju>

<Preparation for the horse armor movement (surface reinforcement)>

<A digital microscopy investigation into organic matters in the horse armor>

<Removing debrises on the surface of the horse armor>

<The horse chamfron (horse headgear) at tomb no.C10 in Jjoksaem, Gyeongju>

<The excavated horse armor at tomb no.C10 in Jjoksaem, Gyeongju (after conservation treatment>

<The simulation test to put the plastic replica horse armor on a horse>

<The final replica of the horse armor at tomb no. C10 in Jjoksaem, Gyeongju>

The Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage

Researcher Park Seong-jin (054-777-8805),

Researcher Jeong Dae-hong (054-777-2669)