Jodong-ri Site, Chungju

The Jodong-ri site in Chungju came to notice in September 1990, when heavy rain eroded the site's sediment layers, exposing large quantities of artefacts on the surface, which were then collected. During the construction of the Jodong embankment in 1996, a rescue excavation confirmed that well-developed Neolithic to Bronze Age cultural layers were present. In 1997, Bronze Age dwelling remains such as house sites, hearths and pits were investigated, and further investigations followed in 2000. The site preserves both Neolithic and Bronze Age cultural layers well. Large quantities of Jeulmun (comb-pattern) pottery were recovered from the Neolithic layer, confirming the oldest Neolithic culture identified in North Chungcheong Province to date, which makes the site important for clarifying the character of Neolithic culture in the Jungwon region. The pottery shows, in its clay, manufacturing technique and decorative patterns, features of the Hangang River, Geumgang River and south coast pottery traditions all together, clearly demonstrating the site's character as a zone of cultural transition; given that this represents a distinctive regional style of the Jungwon area, it is considered possible to establish a new cultural type, a 'Jungwon-style' Neolithic culture. The Bronze Age cultural layer revealed a large-scale settlement with a variety of features, including rectangular dwellings, hearths, pits and ditches. Artefacts recovered — including stone ploughshares, stone axes, net sinkers and pottery — show well-developed tools related to farming and fishing, while large quantities of grains and seeds such as rice, barley, wheat, millet, acorns and peach stones were also found, indicating that a large settlement was formed here in the Bronze Age with active production-based economic activity. The Jodong-ri prehistoric site is considered to occupy a very important position for research into the exchange, diffusion and development of Korea's prehistoric (Neolithic to Bronze Age) cultures and their subsistence economy; given the relative scarcity of other prehistoric sites, it is valued highly both for the study of prehistoric life and for its educational value.

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Where it is

Region

Chungju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물