Multi‐analytical Studies of Archaeological Chinese Earthen Plasters: The Inner Wall of the Longhu Hall (Yuzhen Palace,Ancient Building Complex,Wudang Mountains,China) |
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| Authors: | X Ma G Wei C Grifa Y Kang H Khanjian I Kakoulli |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, HSSEAS School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA;2. Molecular and Nano Archaeology Laboratory, HSSEAS School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA;3. Department of History, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China;4. Department of Science and Technology, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Benevento, Italy;5. Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Wuhan, Hubei, China;6. Science Department, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA;7. UCLA/Getty Conservation Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA |
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| Abstract: | The Yuzhen Palace is one of the nine palaces in the Ancient Building Complex built by order of the Yongle Emperor during the Ming dynasty. The buildings were built with dressed black bricks. As a result of the planned national South–North Water Diversion project, the water level in the Danjiangkou Reservoir that surrounds the Yuzhen Palace was expected to rise by approximately 15 m. To avoid submersion of the site, three gates were elevated by 15 m in 2013 and other buildings dismantled, for later reconstruction. The characterization of the construction materials has therefore become of primary importance. Here, we present results on the plasters of the Longhu Hall. The analysis of materials involved a multi‐analytical approach combining optical and electron microscopy with X‐ray and vibrational spectromicroscopies and thermogravimetry. The results indicated the use of two earthen plaster layers and a whitewash finish coating applied over a thin preparatory intermediate layer to improve the adherence of the finish coating to the earthen plaster. Ramie and straw fibres identified in the earthen plasters were added to reduce shrinkage and cracking during drying. The raw materials used and the application technique pointed to a well‐established construction industry using traditional earthen building materials together with lime technology. |
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| Keywords: | Taoist temple Imperial Complex Wudang Mountains earthen and lime plaster mineralogical and petrographic analysis X‐ray and vibrational spectromicroscopies fibre analysis |
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