A Characteristic Analysis of Glass Beads in Geumgwan Gaya, Korea (I)

This study examined the physical attributes and heat treatment characteristics of glass beads excavated from the Gimhae area, which is the location of Geumgwan Gaya.This enabled classification of surface characteristics of the beads based on the investigation of the color, size, and shape.The glass beads were classified into eight color systems, with purplish-blue beads as the representative color.Bead size was categorized into three types depending on the outer diameter and how it increased over time.Bead shapes were categorized as round, tubular, or doughnut-shaped based on the inner diameter and length, with round being the typical shape.According to the degree of heat treatment, there are three types of cross-section for glass beads that are manufactured by the drawing technique, most of which are the HT-III type.In addition, it is estimated that the heat treatment technology has more considerable effects than other methods.Through non-destructive analysis, the chemical composition was obtained and categorized as flux, stabilizer, and colorant.Analysis confirmed the presence of 63 and 9 pieces in the potash and soda glass groups, respectively.Overall findings from the study highlighted a correlation between the chemical composition and the external factors such as color, size, shape, and manufacturing technology of glass beads recovered from Geumgwan Gaya, revealing characteristics related to that time and region.