Usulseong Fortress

This fortress stands on a hill 140m above sea level (70m in relative height) east of the point where the Daejeoncheon, Yudeungcheon and Gapcheon, the three major streams of the Daejeon basin, converge and the Gapcheon begins to flow north. It is a pogok-sik (valley-embracing) earthen fortress whose overall shape, encompassing the summit of the hill and the valley to its south, resembles a winnowing basket. The wall is about 580m in circumference, and the middle section of the southern wall, which crosses the valley, is presumed to be the site of a gate. Among the relics found at the site, potsherds from the late Unified Silla to early Goryeo period are especially numerous, and since such sherds are mixed into the earth of parts of the exposed wall, it can be inferred that the fortress was not built at an early date. Guseong-dong Mountain Fortress occupies a similarly situated site and shares the same period and construction technique, both belonging to the so-called lowland/foothill fortress type (pyeongji-yasanseong). Many such lowland and foothill fortresses from the transition between (Unified) Silla and Goryeo have been identified in the Hoseo region, and are understood to have served as strongholds of local powerful clans who held sway over their districts at the time. The strongholds of these clans were reorganised from the Goryeo period onward into the administrative centres of their respective regions, and the fact that this fortress stands at the seat of government of the former Hoedeok-hyeon county is likely connected with that background. There are also reports that roof-tile fragments from the Three Kingdoms period have been collected within the fortress, raising the possibility that it was originally built as early as the Three Kingdoms period. Moreover, because this site was the seat of government of the old Hoedeok-hyeon county, it has sometimes been identified as Baekje's "Usulseong," though the evidence for this remains unclear and further investigation and research are needed.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Daedeok-gu, Daejeon

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물