earticle

영어

Various methods have been developed to preserve the cultural heritages made of wood as they are vulnerable to wear and tear. On the contrary, less efforts were made for the preservation of cultural works made of stone. The stone works are exposed to the harshness of nature like rains, winds, thunderstorms and etc, therefore it is equally important to provide same level of efforts for the preservation of stone works as well.

For proper preservation of stone works, a structural study of the stone is necessary to be taken to ascertain its structural soundness. It is pity that local government agencies for cultural heritage do not have enough understanding on the deterioration of stone structure but interested only in the preservation of the 'shapes' of the cultural works.

In particular, cultural properties carved on rocks such as Mayae Bulsang where Buddha images were carved on a rock need unconventional approach for preservation due to engineering geological nature of rocks. In June 2003, the Maeyae Bulsang(national treasure no.221) in Gaheung Ri, Youngjoo, Kyungsang Province had fallen down after a heavy rainfall. A survey attributed the collapse to the heavy rainfall. But the photos attached herewith show that the vertical joint existing in the granite rock were further fallen apart by the tree roots growing and pushing into the joint. It was not the rainfall but the opening of the joint that caused the collapse, which could have been avoided only if a simple remedial measure had been taken in advance. Remedial works based on geotechnical knowledge is important for the preservation of cultural heritages made on or of stones.