Iro-dong Giwa Kiln Site, Donghae

This roof-tile kiln site lies on the western slope of a ridge running north-south, with a small stream flowing in front of it. Kiln No. 1 and Kiln No. 2 sit side by side, while Kiln No. 3 lies deeper in the ground between them; it is presumed to have operated earlier and then been abandoned, and an accumulated waste-disposal layer was found above it. All the kilns are underground climbing kilns (deungyo) dug into yellowish-brown natural subsoil, each consisting of a firebox, a combustion chamber, a firing chamber, and a flue; their long axis runs from north-west (firebox) to south-east (flue). Kiln No. 1 was discovered when the ceiling above its combustion chamber was exposed during road construction, and part of its stoking opening (bungu) was damaged in the process; the kiln survives to a length of 14.4 m, with the floor rising at a slope of about 32 degrees. The deposits inside the combustion chamber show that this kiln was fired at least twice before it was finally taken out of use. Kiln No. 2 has lost its ceiling and north-eastern wall, but the stacked tiles (wajeok) inside it survive intact. The kiln survives to a length of 8.72 m, with a floor slope of about 38 degrees. It was uncovered still in the state it was left after firing: once the tiles had been loaded and a series of firings carried out, the firebox and stoking opening had been completely blocked to build a final sealing fire. The firing chamber has a two-tiered structure, and on the upper slope the tiles were stacked in seven tiers in total and held in place with rough stones so that they would not slide down. Kiln No. 3 preserves its firebox and stoking opening in an almost complete state. The kiln survives to a length of 14.4 m, with a floor slope of about 55 degrees. Its firing chamber shows a three-tiered, stepped structure, and rough marks left by digging tools are still visible on the inner walls. A gomure, a wooden tile-raking tool, was excavated while the firebox was being investigated. The waste-disposal area is deposited irregularly on the slope between Kiln No. 1 and Kiln No. 2; examination of its section showed that discarding took place on two separate occasions, and although the tile patterns from the two periods are mostly the same, some differences are also visible, reflecting the passage of time between them. The Iro-dong roof-tile kiln site is an underground climbing kiln dug into yellowish-brown natural subsoil, and not only does its structure of firebox, combustion chamber, firing chamber, and flue survive well, but the rough marks left by digging are still preserved on its inner walls, allowing the process of building the kiln to be traced. The stacked tiles filling the kiln remain in place, and the firebox and stoking opening were found completely blocked, sealed with a final fire once firing was complete, so that the sequence of work can also be followed. This is the best-preserved Joseon-period roof-tile kiln site investigated to date, and it provides important material for understanding both the manufacture of tiles and the operation of the kiln.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Donghae, Gangwon

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물