A comparison of chemical composition of ancient glass artifacts excavated from Lelang earthen castle and Lelang tombs in Korea with those of ancient Japan by portable XRF analysis

Lelang commandery, one of four commanderies of Han, was located on northwest Korea under the emperor Wu of Han. Han civilization contacted with Japan and three kingdoms of Korea, locating Lelang commandery on northwest Korea. Therefore, analyzing ancient glass artifacts excavated from Lelang commandery is very important to elucidate glass trade in ancient eastern Asia. In this study, 136 glass artifacts from Han dynasty to Western Jin Dynasty (1st c. B.C. ∼3rd c. A.D.) excavated from Lelang commandery were analyzed by using portable XRF spectrometer. The chemical compositions of the glass artifacts from Lelang commandery can be classified into four glass types from their chemical compositions: i.e., potash silicate glass type (K₂O-SiO₂), high alumina soda lime silicate glass type (Na₂O-Al₂O₃-CaO-SiO₂), lead silicate glass type (PbO-SiO₂) and lead barium silicate glass type (PbO-BaO-SiO₂). The diversity of ancient glass artifacts distributed in Lelang commandery is substantiated by non-destructive chemical analysis with portable analytical instruments. The chemical compositions of some of potash silicate glass artifacts and high alumina soda lime silicate glass artifacts excavated from Lelang commandery were basically similar to those excavated from ancient Japan reported in our previous studies. >From these results it is assumed that presence of a direct or indirect trade of glass artifacts between Lelang commandery and ancient Japan. (author)