Shell Mound in Dongnae, Busan

A shell mound is formed by the accumulation of shells and household refuse discarded by prehistoric people after eating shellfish; also called a shell midden, it is a site that vividly shows how people lived at the time. The shell deposits here lie on a low hill some distance from the present coastline, but the site would have stood by the sea when it was formed. The stratigraphy runs, from top to bottom, through a topsoil layer, a shell-mixed layer, and a grey clay layer. In the grey clay layer, remains of an iron-smelting furnace were discovered, the first ancient ironworking site ever found in Korea. Excavated artefacts include earthenware, tools made of bone and antler, ironware, needles, spindle whorls, and jar-coffin burials. The character of these artefacts indicates that the site dates from around the 1st to the 3rd century. Note: the name was changed from Dongnae Patchong to Shell Mound in Dongnae, Busan (notified 28 July 2011).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Dongnae-gu, Busan

Designation

Historic Site · 사적