Scientific Preservation Treatment of Artifacts of the Late Second Sergeant, Kim Ki-bong, Silled in Action During the Korean War

Of the 25 artifacts of the late second sergeant, Kim Ki-bong, excavated from the Arrowhead Hill, 19 artifacts with the exclusion of those delivered to the ordinance disposal team and his bereaved family were subjected to scientific analysis and preservation treatment such as chromaticity XRF comparison spectroscopy, etc. to confirm the material and condition of the artifacts. The colorimetric analysis confirmed that the pattern of the iron helmet was a circle composed of red, blue and white colors, which was the unit mark of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Army during the Korean War. The P-XRF analysis confirmed that the iron helmet was made of austenitic stainless steel. In addition, the image comparison spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the contents of the wallet were a medal certificate. By categorizing the artifacts into 5 groups according to their materials, it was possible to establish a treatment plan appropriate for each group and proceed with stable treatment. If the establishment of a database on the preservation treatment of each of the artifacts from the Korean War and the study of scientific preservation treatment methods were to be continued, it would form a very important foundation from the perspective of the basic data for modern and contemporary excavated artifacts.