The Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center under the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (Director Jeong So-young) announced on the 24th that it has completed the conservation treatment of a Three Kingdoms period plow excavated in June 2023 from a water reservoir at Mongchontoseong Fortress in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where the Hansung Baekje Museum is conducting excavations. The process began in December 2023 and took approximately two years to complete.
Since 2022, the center has been conducting scientific investigation and conservation treatment of major wooden artifacts excavated from the Mongchontoseong water reservoir under investigation by the Hansung Baekje Museum. The plow that completed conservation treatment was the third of four plows discovered at the reservoir. It is presumed to be a "nup-jaenggi" (horizontal plow), characterized by its body parallel to the ground, a type primarily used in the northern regions of the Korean Peninsula.
According to the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, the excavated plow was crafted from oak (Quercus genus), known for its excellent physical strength, using woodworking tools such as adzes and small knives. This finding provides concrete insight into woodworking material selection and manufacturing techniques during the Three Kingdoms period. Radiocarbon dating confirmed the plow was made between 534 and 640 CE, during Goguryeo's temporary occupation of Mongchontoseong.
This aligns with previous excavation findings that the water reservoir within Mongchontoseong—a representative Baekje-era site—was constructed and used during the Goguryeo occupation period.
The plow had severely deteriorated due to moisture and microbial activity during its long burial, resulting in shrinkage, deformation, and significantly weakened structural integrity. To preserve the artifact's external form and structure, the center applied polyethylene glycol (PEG), a water-soluble resin, to strengthen the weakened wood tissue. Vacuum freeze-drying was employed to minimize shape deformation during the drying process.
Additionally, the blade section, which was difficult to physically reassemble due to shrinkage and deformation, was virtually restored through 3D scanning, securing valuable data for estimating the original form at the time of manufacture.
"The conserved plow will be utilized for exhibition and research at the Hansung Baekje Museum, its repository, and is expected to serve as important foundational material for academic research in folklore studies and agricultural technology history," the institute stated.