Songjeong-dong Iron Age Site, Donghae

The Songjeong-dong Early Iron Age site lies on the northern bank of the lower reaches of the Jeoncheon Stream, which flows from west to east through the centre of Donghae. In 1996 the Gwandong University Museum excavated the southern part of the site, in the area then being developed for the expansion of Donghae Port, recovering four dwelling sites along with plain pottery, paddled pottery, tubular beads, comma-shaped beads, glass beads and silver earrings. In 1999 and 2000 the Gangneung National University Museum excavated 45 and 9 Early Iron Age dwelling sites respectively along the route of the main road built through Songjeong-dong and in the surrounding area, showing that a large settlement had existed in the Songjeong-dong area at that time. Most dwellings were pit houses shaped like the character 凸, with plank walls, and their hearths varied in type, including clay-band, furnace-type and unbuilt hearths. At dwelling site No. 2 a tuyere, ironware and iron slag were found, suggesting it had been a workshop for making iron implements. The plank walls of dwelling site No. 9 were wide and used square-sectioned posts, and its short axis was relatively wide in proportion to its long axis, showing that building techniques had advanced further with the arrival of Iron Age culture than in earlier periods. In 2004 the Gangwon Research Institute of Cultural Heritage conducted a trial excavation and confirmed around 40 further dwelling sites as well as circular features and stone-pile features. The 凸-shaped pit house examined at that time measured 6.4 metres north–south, 4.9 metres east–west and 0.6 metres deep, with traces of clay laid and tamped on the floor. Although this dwelling had been damaged by fire, no charcoal survived to show the structure of its walls and roof; however, lumps of burnt earth found inside retained traces of plank walls, indicating that plank walls had been erected around the dwelling and then coated with clay to block the wind. A hearth in the northern part of the floor was oval, measuring 85 cm north–south and 50 cm east–west. Finds included more than ten earthenware vessels arranged along the north wall, among them a steamer, together with one iron axe, two iron arrowheads and one iron harpoon. Excavation revealed three cultural layers of differing date at depths of about 35 cm, 80 cm and 150 cm below the present ground surface, all belonging to the Early Iron Age. On this basis, the Songjeong-dong site is estimated to cover an area of about 416,000 square metres and to have formed a large settlement of around 1,600 houses. A social structure of this scale raises the possibility that the area was the centre of the ancient polity of Siljikguk, or of a confederated kingdom.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Donghae, Gangwon

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물