Stone tells a story, and in South Korea, researchers have now traced one of those stories back to its source.
The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage said it confirmed that the granite used in key stone elements at King Danjong’s royal tomb, known as Jangneung, came from Mount Songhak in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province. The institute said the conclusion matches a Joseon Dynasty record written about 300 years ago and was verified through field surveys and geological analysis.
Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty, was deposed in 1455 and exiled to Yeongwol in Gangwon Province. He died two years later at age 16 after being forced to drink poison, according to the account summarized in the report. His burial site was later renovated into a formal royal mausoleum after he was posthumously restored to the throne in 1698.
To pinpoint the source stone used in that 17th-century restoration, researchers tested major stone features guarding the tomb, including a sacrificial stone table, a central lantern, horse statues, and other sculptures. Lab results identified the material across the pieces as biotite granite. The team then cross-referenced historic texts describing an official search for suitable stone and a trip to a quarry in “Jeongam,” which researchers matched to present-day Sigok-ri in Songhak-myeon at the foot of Mount Songhak. Geological sampling from Mount Songhak was an exact match for the tomb’s granite, and the institute noted the quarry site sits about 24 kilometers from Jangneung, aligning with the historical record.
For mason contractors and restoration teams, the takeaway is straightforward. Provenance work matters. When a project involves heritage stone, lab testing and careful sampling help confirm what is already in place, which supports better decisions on repair stone selection, finish matching, and long-term conservation planning.
Read the full, original article from The Korea Times here.