Comprehensive checkup and the planning of the future preservation and practical use of Bronze Bells and Halberds from Sakuragaoka site (National Treasure)

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26282075
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cultural assets study and museology
• Research Institution: Asian Cultural Exchange Center
• Principal Investigator: Shimmura Masayuki 福岡県立アジア文化交流センター, その他部局等, 研究員 (90592709)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 北井 利幸 奈良県立橿原考古学研究所, その他部局等, 研究員 (70470284) ; 鳥越 俊行 独立行政法人国立文化財機構奈良国立博物館, その他部局等, 研究員 (80416560) ; 池内 一誠 福岡県立アジア文化交流センター, その他部局等, 研究員 (60573095)
• Research Collaborator: HASHIZUME Kiyotaka
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 保存と活用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Kobe City Museum and Kyushu National Museum have jointly conducted extensive checkups and analysis of the 21 bronze objects (14 bells and 7 halberds) from Sakuragaoka, Kobe, Hyogo (National Treasure) found 50 years ago to record their present physical state as thoroughly as possible so that the information may ensure a better conservation of these objects in the future.
Full-scale replicas of the bronze bell #12 from Sakuragaoka and of a halberd from Minami Hiede site, Chikuzenmachi, Fukuoka were cast with traditional stone molds and modern inorganic self-hardening molds. Many technical aspects were clarified through replica-making process, and the advanced level of production during the Yayoi period fully ascertained. These replicas are now incorporated into a museum educational kit of Kyushu National Museum as hands-on objects, and they let school kids feel the metallic texture and weight of the original pieces.

Free Research Field

考古学