Guide to Identifying Raw Materials of "Shell Lime" Used in Ancient Tomb Murals Published

National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Analyzes Characteristics of Oysters, Ark Clams, and More
Expected to Serve as Foundational Data for Restoration Research on Tomb of King Muryeong and Others

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage announced on January 27 that it has published the "Ancient Shell Lime Raw Material Identification Guide," which organizes the characteristics of raw materials used for "paehoe" (shell lime), a material employed in ancient tomb architecture and mural painting.

Shell lime is a material made by firing seashells at high temperatures. Like regular lime, its main component is calcium carbonate. Since ancient times, it has been widely used as a base layer for tomb murals or as a plaster material. Representative examples include Tomb No. 4 at Jinpari in Junghwa, South Pyongan Province; the Baekje tombs in Gamildong, Hanam; the Tomb of King Muryeong in Gongju; the Songjeri tombs in Naju; and the Gonreung and Gareung tombs in Ganghwa. However, there have been limitations in restoring these to their original state due to the difficulty in identifying the specific species of shell used as raw material.

This report focuses on an in-depth analysis of eight types of seashells presumed to be the raw materials for shell lime unearthed from shell mounds and tombs on the Korean Peninsula. These include ark clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, clams, and horned turban shells, among others.

The institute has compiled the morphological and mineralogical characteristics of these shells, including their external appearance, cross-sectional stratification, and microstructure. It also includes photographic documentation of the changes that occur depending on the firing temperature, allowing for the identification of raw materials in excavated artifacts.

The report is expected to serve as a foundational resource for future research on the conservation and restoration of tomb murals and plaster layers. The full text is available for free on the websites of the Cultural Heritage Administration and the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Knowledge Sharing Portal.