Abstract

In this study, the raw material and tempers of bricks used in three brick tombs built in Gongju, during the Ungjin period of Baekje were investigated. The royal tomb of King Muryeong, the 6th tomb in the royal tombs, and Kyochonri brick tomb remained in Gongju and the bricks of each site had different shape and physical properties despite their similarity in raw materials. As the results of the mineralogical and microstructural analysis, the bricks of the royal tombs were made of refined raw materials, and were infrequently added crushed bricks(grogs) as a tempering material. On the other hand, thick and elongated pores of bricks from the Kyochonri brick tomb were frequently found, and the remains of plant carbonization are observed in their microstructures. Since the pores are mainly distributed in a thickness of 0.3 to 1 mm, it is estimated that bricks were produced by adding a certain size of the plant to refined soil, and grogs also were added as a tempering material. In particular, it was found that adding plants and grogs in raw materials of bricks caused thick pores or cracks in the internal structure. Since the bricks of the Kyochonri brick tomb have internal cracks and low firing temperature, the ultrasonic velocity of the bricks was lower than that of the royal tomb bricks. It means that the mechanical strength of these bricks were relatively low. Accordingly, it is estimated that the tempering materials, firing temperature, and internal structures of bricks can affect durability of the brick, and it can be thought as a difference in the manufacturing technology of brick making.

Keywords brick, brick tomb, tempering material, grog, X-ray computed tomography