Characterization of ancient building lime mortars of Anhui province,China: A multi-analytical approach

The characterization of lime mortars has become of primary importance in order to obtain information about the raw ingredients and building technology of ancient masonry structures. Five different samples from Anhui province, China, representing two types of lime mortar-based materials: joint mortars between the bricks of the city wall and lime mortar sealing a tomb coffin, were collected for analysis. Archaeological information about the samples was reported and studies into the microtextural features and mineralogical compositions of those mortars were performed via a multi-analytical approach. The joint lime mortars between the bricks of city walls, including Mingzhongdu city wall, Mingzhongdu Xihua gate foundation, Zhengyangguan city wall and She county city wall, were found to be aerial lime mortars. The lime mortar from Nanling Tieguai Song dynasty tomb was analysed and found to be a pozzolanic mortar consisting of lime, clay, sand and cocciopesto-like materials. The analytical results serve as a critical reference for the maintenance and restoration of ancient city walls in Anhui province, and as a starting point for searching for ancient Chinese pozzolanic mortars and technology for making those mortars.     

Characterization of archaeological lime mortars in a Ming dynasty tomb: A multi-analytical approach

Lime mortars have played an important role in constructing ancient Chinese masonry structures, including city walls, buildings, and tombs. A tomb built with lime mortars and stones belonging a Ming high-ranking official, Xu Jie, was discovered in Huzhou City of China. Eight different samples from Xu Jie’s tomb, representing four types of lime-mortar-based materials: joint mortar between stone bricks, bedding mortar, grouting mortar, and plaster mortars were collected for analysis and comparison. The characterization of the construction materials has therefore become of primary importance. The function of each mortar was reported and studies into the micro-textural features and mineralogical compositions of those mortars were performed via a multi-analytical approach. The joint mortars were all found to be aerial lime mortars with predominately lime. The bedding mortar was found to consist of lime, soil and sand, typical of a tabia mortar. The grouting mortar was found to consist of lime and ground contact metamorphosed limestone. Analysis of plaster sample taken from the roof of the main tomb identified the presence of calcium stearate/palmitate, indicating the usage of plant-based tung oil as an additive. The analytical results will promote our understanding of Ming architectural technology and craftsmanship, and provide critical information for the conservation of Xu Jie’s tomb.     

故宫博物院旧藏漆器文物中漆灰材质的科学研究

漆灰的修复是漆器文物修复工作的重要组成部分。为揭示故宫博物院旧藏漆器3种典型漆灰的材料构成及特点,以及为漆器修复工作提供科技支持,研究结合X射线荧光光谱、微区X射线衍射、红外光谱、纤维显微镜观测、热裂解-气相色谱/质谱联用等技术,综合分析了3种典型漆灰所含无机及有机原材料。研究结果表明：明代古梅花蕉叶式琴漆灰所用无机材料是动物角灰或骨灰及少量黏土,胶结材料则由中国大漆及少量植物油组成;清代黑漆描金大宝座漆灰的无机材料为含有方解石的黏土,胶结材料为熟桐油、猪血的混合物,此外,样品中还含有麻类纤维,为宝座木胎与漆灰层之间所裱麻布,宝座漆灰不但能提供平整髹漆表面,而且还对麻布有加固定型作用;清代黑漆地填金字张廷玉书圣训天伦对联漆灰的无机材料为黏土,胶结材料则为熟桐油、猪血的混合物。研究所用分析方法体系可实现漆灰原材料,特别是有机胶结材料的准确识别。3种典型漆灰的选材特点与中国古代漆器,特别是明清时期家具、器物制作用料传统相吻合,研究结果可直接应用于漆器文物修复方案的制定。     

Chemical and Microscopic Study of Masonry Mortar in Ancient Pagodas in East China

Ancient mortars played a crucial role in the construction of historical architectures due to their physical and chemical compatibility with traditional building materials such as stones and bricks. Therefore, the analysis and optimization of the ancient mortar formula are significant in the restoration and preservation of historical sites. In this work, 20 mortar samples selected from five ancient stone pagodas in Zhejiang Province, China, were analyzed. The results showed that mud, lime-soil mortar, lime-sand mortar, and lime-gypsum mortar were used as binders in these pagodas. The Ca(OH)₂/aggregate ratio ranging from 0.3 to 2.7 was usually used to prepare lime mortar. Protein and polysaccharide were also found in some samples.     

Historical Mortars from the Fortified Upper Town of Eivissa (Balearic Islands,Spain)

Samples of mortars and stone of Portal de ses Taules from the Renaissance city walls of Eivissa (16th century) were characterized using thermal analysis— thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG)—x-ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The granulometric fraction of particle size <63 μm was selected as representative of the binder, while the fraction 0.5–1 mm was taken as representative of the aggregate in order to characterize mortar samples. The results show that local materials were used. Lime was the main component of most of the samples tested. Thermal analysis revealed the hydraulic nature of the lime mortars. High amounts of sodium chloride were found in the samples analysed.     

再谈中国明清家具

我国传统家具历史悠久,早在3000多年前的商代,就已经出现了很精美的青铜和石制家具了,如三联式青铜甗（图1）及石质俎等,这个时代的青铜器上已经可以见到夔纹、云纹等精美的雕饰图案。     

EVALUATION OF BINDER/AGGREGATE RATIOS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL LIME MORTARS WITH CARBONATE AGGREGATE: A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF CHEMICAL,MECHANICAL AND MICROSCOPIC APPROACHES*

This paper reports on the comparative evaluation of traditional and innovative methods for the investigation of mortar technology. Preliminary results of various approaches to determining the mix proportions in lime mortars with carbonate aggregate are presented. Quantitative analysis was tested on ad hoc prepared mortars of known composition containing carbonate aggregates of different origin (travertine and Bath limestone). Wet chemical methods, manual disaggregation and Digital Image Analysis of thin sections and cross‐sections stained with Alizarin Red S were tested. The advantages and drawbacks of the different approaches are discussed, and applications to the analysis of archaeological mortars and plasters are highlighted.     

我国传统镁质石灰初步研究

对我国从明代到民国的建筑灰浆的化学成分、矿物成分等分析发现,部分砌筑及抹灰灰浆为镁质石灰,MgO含量达到5%~26%。特别是取自河北、北京等地长城的传统石灰样品全部为镁质石灰。镁质石灰与钙质石灰比较,具有强度高、吸水率低的特点,从而具有更佳的抗冻融性能。此外,镁质石灰收缩低、易于施工。镁质石灰煅烧需要的温度低于钙质石灰,能耗低。鉴于传统镁质石灰在中国的研究尚为空白,建议系统地开展镁质石灰研究,研究内容包括原材料类型及分布、煅烧温度、消解方式、配比优化等。同时宜研究镁质石灰在严重大气污染下的耐久性及镁质石灰相关建筑遗产的保护修复技术等。     

以糯米灰浆为代表的中国传统有机-无机复合灰浆研究进展和新发现

在中国数千年的建筑实践中,已发现许多具有中国特色的创造,其中以糯米灰浆为代表的中国传统有机-无机复合灰浆就是其中的一类。本文综述了自2007年以来相关研究的进展,包括：针对传统灰浆中有机残留物的化学检测和免疫分析技术的创新发展;全国252处古建筑遗址的1149个灰浆样品的检测结果及解读;糯米灰浆和桐油灰浆等传统胶凝材料固化作用机理及效果的实验验证;糯米灰浆研究成果对世界的影响及在世界复合材料历史上的地位;最近在新石器时代“白灰面”中新发现的有机添加物及相关溯源;传统糯米灰浆的改良研究及在文物保护工程中的应用情况等。这一系列的探索性研究不仅可为古建筑保护提供材料和技术,也为弘扬中华文明提供了鲜活的案例。     

少数民族史学的发展与多民族统一国家观念的形成

Chinese culture is established by bringing together many nationalities. Chinese historiography has recorded the development of this great culture. Among these records, ethnic minority historiography reflects one important aspect for identifying the historic trend of the formation of a united multiethnic nation. A comprehensive study on the development of Chinese ethnic minority historiography shows that it can be divided into six phases: the Pre-Qin period to the Qin and Han dynasties; the Wei, Jin, Southern-Northern and Sui-Tang dynasties; the Liao, Song, Xia, Jin and Yuan dynasties; the Ming and Qing dynasties (before 1840); the modern times (1840–1949); and the contemporary times. Deep analysis of these phases would inevitably improve the study of the history of Chinese historiography. Translated by Ding Haiyan from Hebei Xuekan 河北学刊 (Hebei Academic Journal), 2007, (6): 91–94     

重返“古苗疆走廊”——西南地区、民族研究与文化产业发展新视阈

元明时期新开辟的从湖广经贵州通往云南的"东路"驿道,不仅是维系内地与西南边陲往来的主要交通命脉,并且也直接影响了明清时期西南边疆地区政治版图的变化。本文首次提出了"古苗疆走廊"这一概念,初步探讨了这条走廊对贵州省的建省、明清时代"苗疆"地区的"国家化"过程以及民族关系等所带来的影响,并对"古苗疆走廊"的地域及族群文化的特点等进行了初步整理和分析。就今后推进"古苗疆走廊"作为"世界文化线路遗产"申报的可能性问题,也提出了初步的看法。     

略论昆明古城的历史沿革、文化特色及其底蕴

区,降及元初,虽“昆明”的族称在史籍中已逐渐被所谓“乌蛮”、“罗罗”取代,但很有可能在民间照常沿用而被官方采纳用作地名。其二是与唐初“昆州”、南诏“昆川”有明显的传承演进关系。对此,《元史·地理志》说:“昆明,中,倚郭。唐置(昆州) ,元宪宗四年,分其地立(昆明)千户二。至元十二年改鄯州,领(昆明)县。二十一年,州革,县名故。”从中不难发现,“昆州”与“昆明县”之间确有内在联系,而夹在其间的过渡性地名“鄯州”,则显然是从先前的“鄯阐府”转化而来。然而尽管这些解释已足够充分,且在边疆民族地区以当地少数民族的传统称谓用作…     

Wall Paintings from the Roman Emona (Ljubljana,Slovenia): Characterization of Mortar Layers and Pigments

This study concerns the investigation of mortar layers and pigments of wall paintings from the Roman town of Emona (Ljubljana, Slovenia). Fragments of wall paintings consist of up to three preserved mortar layers. The mineralogical–petrographic compositions of the mortars were determined by means of optical microscopy and FT–IR spectroscopy. The investigated samples were divided into several groups based on similar thicknesses of the mortar layer, the binder colour and the composition of an aggregate. Furthermore, the results of mercury intrusion porosimetry showed that mortar layers consisting of carbonate grains exhibited lower porosity with respect to layers with mainly silicate grains, which is attributed to the angular shapes of carbonate aggregate. This is in accordance with the drilling resistance measurement system test (DRMS), confirming that layers with angular carbonate grains are harder than those with addition of rounded silicate ones, due to the good packing effect. The wall paintings were mainly executed using the fresco technique, while for some details secco was used. The identified pigments were red and yellow ochre, green earth, Egyptian blue, carbon black and lime white; all of them belonged to the so‐called austere pigment, which is quite common in Roman wall paintings.     

Paper 5: Historic Mortars from the Coudenberg Archaeological Site: Characterization and Source of Raw Materials

Abstract

The characterization of historic mortars by means of a concise methodology of material analyses can provide crucial information with regard to the origin of the raw materials and the ancient mortar technology. For the analysis of the historic mortars of the Coudenberg archaeological site, the methodology consists of optical and scanning electron microscopy, simultaneous thermal analysis, and an acidic treatment. These analyses were carried out on a total of seventeen samples lifted from various areas in the site, in function of the building chronology resulting from a historic built investigation. The type of binder and aggregate as well as their volumetric ratio were determined.

Both binder and aggregate present distinctive features, which made it possible to identify the probable geological provenance of the raw materials. The observations are verified with available historical records regarding the construction of the main banqueting hall — the Aula Magna — and the use of raw materials such as limestone and sand for the production of lime and construction purposes.     

Archaeometric study of natural hydraulic mortars: the case of the Late Roman Villa dell’Oratorio (Florence,Italy)

This paper shows the results of a multidisciplinary study carried out on the mortars from the Late Roman Villa dell’Oratorio (fourth-sixth ad), an aristocratic mansion built in the lower Valdarno (Florence, Italy). Thirty-one bedding mortar and plaster samples were analysed through optical microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for determining the chemical, mineralogical and petrographic characteristics, while their main physical properties were measured by geotechnical procedures. The collected data indicates that the analysed mortars are made up of very fine to coarse river sand aggregate mixed with white to yellowish-white natural hydraulic lime binder mainly consisting of mixtures of prevailing calcite and hydraulic compounds. With regard to the origin of the raw materials, the aggregates were recognized to be selected Arno river sands, and the binders are the burning product of a local marly limestone (ex Alberese). Therefore, the mortars of the Late Roman Villa dell’Oratorio are one of the first uses of natural hydraulic lime in the lower Valdarno.     

美轮美奂——曹其镛曹罗碧珍夫妇捐赠之清代雕漆

一 来源 本着热爱家乡、报效家乡的桑梓之心,曹其镛、曹罗碧珍夫妇特地将他们珍藏多年的中国古代漆器160件（组）,无偿捐赠给浙江省博物馆,永久收藏。曹其铺,祖籍浙江省宁波市,系旅港乡贤、浙江省政协常委、浙江省侨商会会长、香港永新企业集团副董事长,著名实业家曹光彪长子。曹其铺、曹罗碧珍夫妇醉心收藏,尤其是中国古代漆器艺术品的收藏,品类齐全,为世人瞩目。     

Characterisation of archaeological mortars and plasters from kyme (Turkey)

The present study focuses on the compositional characterisation of Roman, proto-Byzantine and Medieval mortars, sampled in the archaeological site of Kyme (Turkey), an Aeolian city, founded in the middle of the XI century BC by Greek populations. The mortars were studied through elemental (SEM-EDS, XRF), mineralogical (XRPD, De Astis calcimeter) and petrographic (polarised optical microscopy) analysis. The comparison between the samples allowed us to emphasise compositional differences within mortars of the same historical period.In particular, we detected the prevalent use of cocciopesto, which was used as a pozzolanic additive to create hydraulic mortars in the Roman and Byzantine period. The cocciopesto was used to improve the technological properties of an initially slaked lime. Furthermore, compositional similarities allowed us to attribute an unknown sample to the Roman period. Our study also pointed out the fact that the lower quality mortars belonged to the Medieval period. As a matter of fact, the most friable sample belonging to the Middle Ages turned out to be a mixture of clay, lime and volcanic sand.     

The ancient pozzolanic mortars and concretes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heliocaminus</Emphasis> baths in Hadrian’s Villa (Tivoli,Italy)

The aim of this work is the physical and mineralogical-petrographic characterization of the mortars from the Baths with Heliocaminus, a special and unique architectural building in the complex of the Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. Thirty samples were investigated for composition and physical properties (density, porosity, water absorption, mechanical strength, particle size distribution of aggregate, etc.), representative of eight mortar groups: cubilia bedding mortar, brick bedding mortars, floor-coating and wall-coating bedding mortars, floor (rudus) and wall conglomerates (trullisatio), vault concretes, and lime plasters (arriccio). Physical parameters, together with the microscopic analysis and binder/aggregate ratio determined in three ways using image analysis (on thin sections and on specimens) and weight-data from dissolution of binder, have shown an interesting relationship between the physical-compositional characteristics and the function of mortars within the structure of the Heliocaminus baths. To identify the minerals and the reactant phases between binder and aggregate, as well as the hydraulic degree, selected samples were analyzed with x-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. The obtained results provide a close relation between pozzolanic characteristics and physical-mechanical properties of the mortars (i.e., punching strength index).     

论中国古代社会的虚拟血缘关系

中国古代社会的虚拟血缘关系,主要包括异姓兄弟和异姓父子两大类。它的发展,从宏观方面来看,与王朝嬗替中传统社会组织的稳定与解体互相联系;而从微观运行来看,又与虚拟血缘关系在形成新的社会组织方面具有较高的运作效率以及较低的社会成本密切相关。正因为此,虚拟血缘关系在魏晋南北朝隋唐时期,成为宗族社会与王朝政权控制力下降或解体时,社会边缘族群及下层社会组成新的社会集团时的重要选择。在宋代以后,虚拟血缘关系中的异姓兄弟,由于对王朝的稳定构成巨大的挑战,受到历代王朝日益严厉的压制以至禁止,但因其组成新的社会利益集团的较低社会组织成本和高效率,却在明清时代成为民间秘密社会的主要组织方式。     

论清代长城边口贸易的时代特征

Comparison study on the border trading between the Ming and the Qing dynasties shows that during the Qing Dynasty, the Great Wall become an important means for the government to rule other nations like Mongolian; the border trading markets in the Qing were more than that in the Ming, and the folk trading along the Great Wall played an important role; the management about the border trading by the Qing government was embodied in the control of the structure and scale of border trading market and the mutual trading; the trading premise, the market nature, the market value for existence, and the market function of the border trading in the Qing were different from that of the Ming Dynasty. Translated by Chen Cheng from Qingshi Yanjiu 清史研究 (Studies in Qing History), 2007, (3): 73–86