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The history of Korea extends far beyond present-day South Korea, encompassing North Korea and Manchuria where many ancient ethnic-polities, such as Koguryŏ, Palhae, Puyŏ, Okchŏ, and Yilou(=Euplu, 挹婁), once thrived. Unfortunately, South... more
The history of Korea extends far beyond present-day South Korea, encompassing North Korea and Manchuria where many ancient ethnic-polities, such as Koguryŏ, Palhae, Puyŏ, Okchŏ, and Yilou(=Euplu, 挹婁), once thrived. Unfortunately, South Korean researchers have faced challenges in studying these regions, which belong to several modern nations. There is limited research, particularly on Okchŏ, Tongye, and Malgal/Yilou, which were the grassroots of Palhae society and prevailed along the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula up to Primorsky Krai in Russia's East Sea Rim region. Okchŏ, in particular, is a representative historical polity of the East Sea Rim region. It has been considered a small polity based heavily on ancient texts that mention its subjugation by Koguryŏ.
However, the text itself describes how Okchŏ maintained its independent identity until its demise soon after Wei’s Guanqiu Jian(毌丘儉) campaign in the third century AD. Furthermore, archaeological remains found from Hamgyeong-do in North Korea, Yanbian in China, and Primorsky Krai in Russia support Okchŏ's cultural identity independent from Koguryŏ (Kang In Uk, 2018). The previous description of Okchŏ, mostly derived from textual evidence, is far inconsistent with archaeological evidence. Archaeological remains across Manchuria and Primorsky Krai suggest a far different image than the underrated "peripheral" polity gleaned from texts.
This article aims to reconstruct the historical reality of Okchŏ, primarily based on archaeological research conducted over the last 20 years, and reassess its significance in Korean and Northeast Asian history.
This painting of a flying horse(a.k.a heavenly horse) represents Silla’s aspirations to expand its rule and connect with the broader Eurasian steppe. Brought to light by chance, the flying horse painting has made critical contributions to... more
This painting of a flying horse(a.k.a heavenly horse) represents Silla’s aspirations to expand its rule and connect with the broader Eurasian steppe. Brought to light by chance, the flying horse painting has made critical contributions to understanding the historical relationship between Korea and the Eurasian Steppe. There is a vast amount of historical
information embedded in this flying horse artifact. Research is still being conducted to decipher the layers of meaning to be found in this artifact and help us better understand Silla and ancient Korea. Here are some historical secrets that can be gleaned from this painting from the flying horse Tomb.
Purpose of the work is to determine the ethnic and cultural affiliation of the population that left the Xichaogou burial ground. Xichaogou is an expressive archaeological complex located in the Liaoning region of China. The uniqueness of... more
Purpose of the work is to determine the ethnic and cultural affiliation of the population that left the Xichaogou burial ground. Xichaogou is an expressive archaeological complex located in the Liaoning region of China. The uniqueness of this necropolis lies in the fact that several  hundred burials of varying degrees of preservation have been recorded in
it. Inventory complexes of burials include ceramics, objects made of bronze, iron and stone. The materials of the site demonstrate the features of various cultures – Xiongnu, Buyeo, Han, Xianbi and etc. Since the burial inventory of the Xichaogou burial site demonstrates multicultural features, the question of the ethnic and cultural affiliation of the population that created this site is debatable. Materials and methods. In previous works, the problem of ethnic identification of the Xichaogou burial ground was
solved on the basis of certain categories of grave artefacts. In this paper, the questions of the ethnic and cultural affiliation of the Xichaogou sie are considered on the material of the belt plaques decorated in the animal style. The main reason for this choice of material is that the shape and ornament of belt plaques reflect the ethnic and cultural identity of an individual or group in nomadic cultures. 17 belt plaques were found at the Xichaogou site. The entire amount of material is divided into 3 types according to such features as shape, rim ornament (teardrop-shaped, dotted, herringbone), manufacturing technique (presence of through openwork holes), method of fastening (presence of eyelets on the back side), function as part of a belt set (presence peg). A search for analogies to the groups of belt plaques in the Xiongnu culture, identified in the materials of the Sichagou site, has been undertaken. It has been established that belt plaques from the materials of the Xichaogou burial ground find analogies in the vast territory of the Xiongnu culture in Northern Eurasia. It can be concluded that the population that created the Xichaogou site does not belong to the Xiongnu by ethnic origin, but was strongly influenced by this culture. The population of Xichaogou was formed on the basis of the local culture of the previous period. Various and diverse cultures of the eastern part of the Liaoning and the western
part of the Jilin regions also contributed to its formation. At the current stage it is possible to identify the Xiongnu and Buyeo cultural components.
According to historical documents, it is clear that Goguryeo expanded to the Tuman (or as Tumen) River basin and established Cheksung, a wooden fortress structure, in the early period of Goguryeo. In spite of this record, few traces of... more
According to historical documents, it is clear that Goguryeo expanded to the Tuman (or as Tumen) River basin and established Cheksung, a wooden fortress structure, in the early period of Goguryeo. In spite of this record, few traces of Goguryeo were found in the maritime area of Russia and Yanbian. Thus, the author has attempted to offer a new interpretation regarding the formation of Baeksan Malgal (or Baishan
Mohe) and the governance of Goguryeo in this area. According to archaeological researches, Northern Okcho (=Wuji), recognized as the Tuanjie-Krounovka culture, transformed to the Olga culture in the first century CE and existed in to the second century CE. Later, around the fifth century CE, Mohe culture appeared in the far eastern region of Russia and the Yanbian area. Thus, there is a vacuum of three centuries in archaeological culture. It is worthwhile to notice that this period of discontinuity coincides with the invasion by Guanqiu Jian, who was the general of the Wei dynasty. Under the invasion by Guanqiu Jian indigenous people of this area reformed their livelihoods from intensive cultivation of crops to a mixed economy of hunting,
gathering, and stockbreeding. This change could be reflected as the appearance of the Mohe people.
In this period, the Goguryeo administration could be explained by
two pieces of archaeological evidence. First, a pottery artifact from the
Shu (蜀) dynasty that bears an inscription of the second year of Yianxi
(延熙) was found in the border area between North Korea and the
Soviet Union during the Korean War. This shows a long-distance
network in the Tuman area in the third century CE. Second, roof tile
pieces in the Northern Wei style were recently found at the
Guchengcun temple site in Hunchun. This unexpected artefact of the
Northern Wei style shows that some hostages returned, and were sent
to Northern Wei from Buyeo to construct Buddhist temples in the
periphery.
The last period (sixth-seventh century CE) of Goguryeo governance
in this area has been traced to the earliest layer of a Kraskino Balhae
(or Bohai) fortress, mainly in sector 41 which was excavated by the
author in 2009~2010. This layer is believed to date to the pre-Balhae
period and revealed some fixed roof tiles and pottery of the Goguryeo
type and pottery of the Olga (or poltse) culture.
In this way, governance by Goguryeo in Yanbian and in the far east
of Russia was indirect and indigenous people gradually transformed
from Okcho to Baishan Mohe. However, Goguryeo also sent some people to build temples and fortresses, such as Guchengcun and the
Kraskino site. Thus, in spite of the flourishing indigenous culture, the
Yanbian area could belong to the Goguryeo identity as shown in the
epitaphs of Yi Tayin (Li Taren) found in the Xi’an area of China.
The purpose of the work is to search for evidence of the “golden statue of a man for sacrifices to Heaven” existence in the material culture of the early Xiongnu for the subsequent interpretation of this phenomenon. To achieve this goal,... more
The purpose of the work is to search for evidence of the “golden statue of a man for sacrifices to Heaven” existence in the material culture of the early Xiongnu for the subsequent interpretation of this phenomenon. To achieve this goal, the reports of Chinese historical records on the culture of the early Xiongnu, which contain references to the “golden statue of a person for sacrifices to Heaven” were analyzed. Information from the historical records was compared with archaeological materials of synchronous archaeological cultures with numerous gold items in the territory of Northern Eurasia. Basically, the comparison was made with the “golden culture” of the Sakas of Kazakhstan.
It has been established that the “golden statue of a person for sacrifices to Heaven” in the culture of the early Xiongnu did not imply a golden statue, similar to later statues of Buddha, but the tradition of the deceased rulers clothes decorating with gold implements in the process of the ritual exposure of the deceased body. This tradition is widely known from the materials of the Sakas culture of Kazakhstan as a rite of creating a “golden man”. It is suggested that this tradition was borrowed by the Xiongnu in the course of contacts with the Saka population of Kazakhstan in the 4th century BC and existed among the Xiongnu until the 2nd century BC. The contacts between the Xiongnu and the Scythian and Saka nomadic population of Central Asia are confirmed by the excavations materials from the Chikhertyn Zoo burial ground in Mongolia.
The study of archaeology and ancient history of Korea at Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (IAET SB RAS as bellows) in Novosibirsk began about 50 years ago. The fi rst signifi cant... more
The study of archaeology and ancient history of Korea at Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (IAET SB RAS as bellows) in Novosibirsk began about 50 years ago. The fi rst signifi cant event was the visit of a delegation of archaeologists from Novosibirsk to North Korea in 1974. During the trip, Siberian archaeologist, headed by A.P.Okladnikov, collected numerous materials on the archeology of Korea and the culture of the first Korean state – Ancient Joseon (a.k.a Gojoseon). The subsequent period of development of Korean studies in Novosibirsk is associated with the activities of Yu.M. Butin. The main merit of this scholar is a detailed reconstruction of the history and culture of Ancient Joseon on the basis of
original North Korean sources. After publication of his colossal work on Ancient Joseon, he also wrote a sequel monograph on the 4 Han prefectures and early three kingdom period of Korea. This way, he reconstructed whole ancient history of Korea in the fi rst half of 1980’s. Subsequently, Yu.M. Butin finished his career as a specialist in archeology and ancient history of Korea by defending his doctoral dissertation. After his departure from archaeological school of Novosibirsk, a followup
visit of Siberian archaeologists has completed in 1988, but wholly cooperation with DPRK has ceased. In the 1990s thanks to the efforts of academicians A.P. Derevianko and V.I. Molodin, relations between IAE SBRAS and the Republic of Korea began to improve. The topic of joint research is the problems of prehistoric and medieval archeology of Eurasia that are relevant for both sides.
At present, there is a need to comprehend the results of the work of Novosibirsk Korean scholars obtained over the past 50 years, including Yu.M. Butin. This may be the beginning of a new stage of international cooperation between archaeologists in the 21st century.

Изучение археологии и древней истории Кореи в Новосибирском научном центре было начато примерно 50 лет назад. Первым  знаковым событием стал визит в 1974 г. делегации археологов из Новосибирска в Северную Корею. В ходе поездки ученые собрали многочисленные материалы по археологии Кореи и культуре первого корейского государства – Древнего Чосона. Последующий период развития корееведения в Новосибирске связан с деятельностью Ю.М. Бутина. Основная заслуга этого ученого – детальная реконструкция истории и культуры Древнего Чосона на базе оригинальных северокорейских источников. Им также напи-
сана монография, характеризующая историю и культуру Корейского полуострова в период после падения Древнего Чосона. В 1986 г. Ю.М. Бутин защитил докторскую диссертацию, после чего его карьера в качестве специалиста по археологии и древней истории Кореи завершилась. Вместе с уходом Ю.М. Бутина из Института истории, филологии и философии СО АН СССР, прекратились и исследования, связанные с Древним Чосоном, равно как и на-
учное сотрудничество с КНДР, завершившееся визитом сибирских археологов в 1988 году. В 1990-е гг. благодаря усилиям академиков А.П. Деревянко и В.И. Молодина, начинают налаживаться отношения между археологами Новосибирского научного центра и Республики Корея. Тематикой совместных исследований становятся актуальные для обеих сторон проблемы первобытной и средневековой археологии Евразии. В настоящее время назрела необходимость в осмыслении полученных за последние 50 лет результатов работы новосибирских корееведов, в числе которых был и Ю.М. Бутин. Это может стать началом нового этапа международного сотрудничества археологов в XXI в.
From the end of the Korean War until the early 1970s, the PRC experienced the tumultuous history of the Cultural Revolution whereas North Korea established the Juche [Self-Reliance] Ideology. During the same period, the two countries... more
From the end of the Korean War until the early 1970s, the PRC experienced
the tumultuous history of the Cultural Revolution whereas North
Korea established the Juche [Self-Reliance] Ideology. During the same period, the two countries established a chronological system for ancient history and archaeology. Since the 1990s, the Go’joseon research in South
Korea has been based on their research results. However, the details of
Go’joseon’s research in North Korea and the PRC were not known. The
two socialist countries soon began to experience conflict as nationalist
views of history were spreading rapidly. After eight years of joint study
from 1958 to 1965, North Korea and the PRC stopped exchanging views
on Go’joseon and Goguryeo. The diaries of Gu Jiegang and An Zhimin reveal the vivid voices of the Chinese side during the eight-year collaborative period. As with all diaries, the two diaries can never be considered complete in regard to data. They are an one-sided record on the part of the PRC with many parts still missing. We can never claim that the entire situation can be grasped with these personal records. Nevertheless, they are significant in providing an important clue that conveys the undercurrents of ancient East Asian history by filling the void of information. As ancient history lacks historical data, scholars’ methods and historical views inevitably influence the interpretation of archaeological materials. Archaeology can be a field that best reflects the political and social reality of the time as compared to other disciplines. That is why contemporary materials such as the diaries of Gu Jiegang and An Zhimin should be more academically read and analyzed.
To understand the domestication and spread of horses in history, genetic infor mation is essential. However, mitogenetic traits of ancient or medieval horses have yet to be comprehensively revealed, especially for East Asia. This study... more
To understand the domestication and spread of horses in history, genetic infor mation is essential. However, mitogenetic traits of ancient or medieval horses have yet to be comprehensively revealed, especially for East Asia. This study thus set out to reveal the maternal lineage of skeletal horse remains retrieved from a 15th century archaeological site (Gongpyeongdong) at Old Seoul City in South Korea. Methods: We extracted DNA from the femur of Equus caballus (SNUA001) from Joseon period Gongpyeongdong site. Mitochondrial (mt) DNA (HRS 1512816116) of E. caballus was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Cloning and sequencing were conducted for the mtDNA amplicons. The sequencing results were analyzed by NCBI/BLAST and phylo genetic tool of MEGA7 software. Results: By means of mtDNA cytochrome b and Dloop analysis, we found that the 15th century Korean horse belonged to haplogroup Q representing those horses that have historically been raised widely in East Asia. Conclusion: The horse is unique among domesticated animals for the remarkable impact it has on human civilization in terms of transportation and trade. Utilizing the Joseon period horse remains, we can obtain clues to reveal the genetic traits of Korean horse that existed before the introduction of Western horses.
This paper proposes three measures for a new archaeological study on the Silk Road. First, a systematic understanding is required for the archaeological achievements on the Silk Road made during the Soviet Era before the 1990s. Nowadays,... more
This paper proposes three measures for a new archaeological study on the Silk Road. First, a systematic understanding is required for the archaeological achievements on the Silk Road made during the Soviet Era before the 1990s. Nowadays, many scholars in East Asia, including South Korea, rely on literature written mainly in English to study and understand the Silk Road. However, the Silk Road’s archaeological excavations were mostly made before the 1990s, that is, they were not well known in South Korea and the West. Therefore, a systematic understanding of those achievements can be the basis of new international research. Bernshtam’s achievements representing the studies until the 1960s are good examples. They have recently led to the joint publication of an art catalog on South Korea and Kazakhstan’s gold culture. Second, we should move away from the narrow nationalism advocated by now- independent countries and pursue the research at the international level. The real value of the Silk Road should lie in fi nding common ground beyond borders and ideology. Thus, it is necessary to understand the research trends in individual countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. The Asian Archaeology conference held annually by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of South Korea is one of excellent examples of such an effort. Finally, archaeological research on the Silk Road should move forward not just as an academic pursuit but also as a means of global cultural cooperation. In this regard, active collaboration with international organizations, such as UNESCO, is crucial. As such, if these three aspects are considered together, the international archaeological research on the Silk Road led by South Korea in the new phase of the 21st century will contribute to the Silk Road research in the new era.

Keywords: archaeology, Silk Road, Central Asia, kurgan, UNESCO, Soviet Union.
As we have seen in this paper, the excavation of Koksharovka opened the chapter of the new perspectives on the research of ‘Bohai as the active subject of the Eurasian route’ beyond ‘Balhae(Bohai) as Korean history.’ The excavation of... more
As we have seen in this paper, the excavation of Koksharovka opened the chapter of the new perspectives on the research of ‘Bohai as the active subject of the Eurasian route’ beyond ‘Balhae(Bohai) as Korean history.’ The excavation of remains and ritual site(or mausoleum) of the Uighur Khaganate made it possible to speculate on the relationship between Balhae of the Far East and the Eurasian steppe, which E.V. Shavkunov suggested previously. Although Balhae was located in the Far East, they could find a huge empire based on active trades and interaction with the neighboured area, especially with the Eurasian steppe.  The reason why Balhae expanded its territory northward is one of the dispute subjects in
recent years. However, researchers from different countries interpreted this phenomenon from their own perspectives. However, excavations at the Koksharovka
and Nikolaevka,-II located in the mountainous regions of the Far Eastern region of Russia, revealed that the Balhae site, located in the northern part, engaged in economic activity to interact with the Eurasian steppe area such as Uighur Khaganate and obtain special products of mountainous areas such as fur and ginseng. In other words, Balhae did not merely expand the territory but went north to interact with the surrounding area and gain economic benefits.
Like this, Koksharovka played a role in trading with the mountain region (leather and ginseng) and central Asia. Secondly, the foundation of Koksharovka could be dated
to the middle of the 8th century until the early part of the 9th century, in consideration of the flourishing period of the Uighur Empire. Third, Sogdian belonged to Uighur Khaganate and played a major role in the Eurasian steppe's artifacts and remains in the Balhae sites. Fourth, Koksharovka's mausoleum was made by a group of
migrated people from Uighur Khaganate.
The interaction between Balhae and Central Asia shed light on the expansion of the Silk Road and the reason for Balhae's expansion northward. Furthermore, it is significant that this new perspective could provide a new paradigm for Balhae study ‘Balhae as a Korean History,’ to ‘Balhae in the context of Eurasian medieval history.’
Exhibition catalogue for special exhibition of archaeological findings from Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences in Seoul National Museum in 2005 year.
In this chapter, through descriptions of the Xiaohe cemetery, related Silk Road archaeological sites, and the mummies discovered therein, we have reviewed the present situation of research on the Bronze Age cultures left by ancient... more
In this chapter, through descriptions of the Xiaohe cemetery, related Silk Road archaeological sites, and the mummies discovered therein, we have reviewed the present situation of research on the Bronze Age cultures left by ancient Indo-Europeans who drifted into northwestern China as early as 2000–1500 BCE. The mummies and the early Bronze Age artifacts associated with them found in the Xinjiang area have been investigated in the last century, but professional analyses based on substantive evidence has been limited. But because of archaeological information that has recently emerged from the Xinjiang Silk Road reinvestigation, the significance of the mummies has been validated anew. The Xinjiang mummies currently maintained in the local museums have significance in two aspects: their contribution to the history of Silk Road researches and to mummy studies worldwide. Especially for the latter, the mummies and their culture could provide invaluable information about the first demic diffusion of Indo-Europeans to the east in the prehistoric era. The Xinjiang mummies are also significant because of their superb preservation, even after the lapse of several millennia. As is well-known, naturally mummified examples provide the best research subjects for scientific analysis for revealing the life and health status of ancient peoples. Since the mummies are very rare cases that have been preserved in the remote periphery of China during ancient times, sensitive and detailed scientific studies on them in the future could provide wonderful data to archaeologists, anthropologists, and paleopathologists worldwide.
Teaching Siberian archaeology to foreign students has its own characteristics and requires a special approach. Not all terms and phenomena are equivalent to the language and archaeological experience of the students.Therefore, the teacher... more
Teaching Siberian archaeology to foreign students has its own characteristics and requires a special approach. Not all terms and phenomena are equivalent to the language and archaeological experience of the students.Therefore, the teacher is unlikely to be able to make foreign students interested in their subject matter by simply giving
lectures, since it is not always possible to achieve a full contact with the audience. The use of visual materials
while conducting courses helps solve a lot of problems of teaching Siberian archaeology to foreign students. In archaeology,
such a visual material is an archaeological site or an artifact. Thus, the method of “immersion” into the environment
of the subject studied, which we implement as an excursion to archaeological sites while giving lectures
directly at the place where the studied phenomenon can be found, is particularly popular as a way of teaching archaeology
to foreigners.
Results. Such a technique was implemented in 2018 by researchers of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of SB RAS and Professor Kang In Uk during the summer course of teaching Siberian archaeology to history students from Kyung Hee University (Seoul, the Republic of Korea). As a part of this course, students visited mound complexes
and rock art objects in the Altai Mountains and ground burial sites of the Neolithic and Bronze Age in the Baraba forest-steppe region. The course included not only a detailed examination of the sites, but also lecturing at each of them. As our experience shows, the students were most interested in the topics resembling the ancient culture of the
peoples of the Korean Peninsula, such as burial mounds, rock images of female shamans, Andronovo-type objects,etc. These subjects are relevant not only for research theses, but also as topics for individual research projects. This indicates that the goal of hosting a summer course on archaeology of Siberia for Korean students was achieved:
the topic aroused deep interest among the audience.
Conclusion. There is no doubt that the methodology of teaching Siberian archaeology to foreign students described
in the present article is not only effective, but also has great prospects in the form of various master classes and workshops,
as well as in the form of direct participation of foreign students in archaeological excavations in Siberia
My study aims to provide evidence, based on archaeological findings, that demonstrates the actual interchange between the Korean Peninsula and the northern Eurasia steppe region. Chronological sequences of the earliest relationships... more
My study aims to provide evidence, based on archaeological findings, that demonstrates the actual interchange between the Korean Peninsula and the northern Eurasia steppe region. Chronological sequences of the earliest relationships between Korea (including a part of Manchuria) and the Eurasian nomadic culture began 3500 years ago and can be divided into seven periods, as detailed below. In particular, the Silla dynasty is cited as a concrete example of this exchange with ancient Eurasian culture.
This article discusses the development of early acupuncture needles as demonstrated by the artifacts excavated from the Northern part of the Yanji District, Jilin, China, during the Japanese colonial era (reported in 1941). Numerous bone... more
This article discusses the development of early acupuncture needles as demonstrated by the artifacts excavated from the Northern part of the Yanji District, Jilin, China, during the Japanese colonial era (reported in 1941). Numerous bone needles, stone needles, and other medical devices were found in the Xiaoyingzi excavation. The stone needles from Xiaoyingzi can be categorized into three grades, based on length, of 8cm, 12-15cm, and 18cm. A set of round stones for massage were also discovered, along with obsidian blades. These relics were carefully stored in the middle of the body in the stone coffin. In addition to do with weaving textile or military use. Current research on the origin of acupuncture has been confined either to stone needles from the prehistoric age or to bronze needles, as well as to literature from the Warring States period to the Han China, during which acupuncture technology was considerably expanded. However, substantial knowledge on the “gap” between stone needles and metal needles have been procured through the analysis of Xiaoyingzi, Yanji. The findings of Xiaoyingzi are also significant in providing a more detailed reconstruction of the development of acupuncture in East Asia and the emergence of acupuncture throughout history.
A large amount of medical items (stone and bone needles, cases for needles, massage stone type bianshi, and etc.), have been excavated from Xiaoyingzi and other neighboring sites, Along with geographic and ecological factors, this archeological data strongly suggests the medical tradition of using acupuncture needles was practiced around Tumen River basin in the Bronze Age (10th century B.C.).Xiaoyingzi, stone needles were also excavated along the lower valley region of the Tuman (Tumen, 豆滿) River. These facts indicate that the owner was involved in medical practice and that medical procedures using stone needles were quite popular at the time. This article carefully investigates that the relics have nothing to do with weaving textile or military use. Current research on the origin of acupuncture has been confined either to stone needles from the prehistoric
age or to bronze needles, as well as to literature from the Warring States period to the Han China, during which acupuncture technology was considerably expanded. However, substantial knowledge of the “gap” between stone needles and metal needles has been procured through the analysis of Xiaoyingzi, Yanji. The findings of Xiaoyingzi are also significant in providing a more detailed reconstruction of the development of acupuncture in East Asia and emergence of acupuncture throughout history. A large amount of medical items (stone and bone needles, cases for needles, massage stone type bianshi, and etc.), have been excavated from Xiaoyingzi and other neighbouring sites, Along with geographic and ecological factors, this archeological data strongly suggests the medical tradition of using acupuncture needles was practiced around Tumen River basin in the Bronze Age (10th century B.C.).
In this study author gathered archaeological materials with chinese inscription from Hunnu sites, and analysed social structure and diplomatic relationship of north and south hunnu. In II chapter, author divides materials with... more
In this study author gathered archaeological materials with chinese inscription from Hunnu sites, and analysed social structure and diplomatic relationship of north and south hunnu. In II chapter, author
divides materials with inscriptions into 5 groups(lacquerer, roofing tiles and pottery, bronze seal and gold buckle plates and figures out the archaeological context, contents and chronology of each inscriptions. Based on II chapter, in III chapter author compares features of inscriptions between North and South Hunnu. Those inscriptions from each Hunnu were found in different contexts and let us take a glimpse of social structure and diplomatic relationships in each Hunnu.
Lacquerer were mainly found from supreme royal tombs of North Hunnu in Mongol. These inscribed lacquerer were made by Han imperial court(Kaogong and Shujun) around 8 BCE to 16 CE.
It is worthwhile that one of this lacquerer was made by private workshop with similar technique of imperial court. This situation alludes that Chinese Court should prepare tribute to Shanyu of North Hunnu in a quite short time, and Chinese Court possibly ordered to private workshop to accomplish demands form Hunnu punctually . The embroidered brocade with inscriptions from Noyon–ool and
Oglakhty was imported to Hunnu in different time. Brocade from Noyon–ool was probably made in the period of dynasty Xin, which are concerned with Wang Mang' appeasement policy to Hunnu just after his enthronement. But finds from Oglakhty are dated after fall of North Hunnu . Contrast to North Hunnu, in South Hunnu' boundaries, just bronze seal and roofing tiles with inscriptions of Hunnu was yielded. Furthermore, except inscriptions most of accompanied materials
belongs to typical Chinese. It means South Hunnu became assimilated to China in material culture from the middle of 1th century BCE. And the contents of bronze seals shows that these south Hunnu, naturalized as Chinese officials, was dispatched to colonise another frontier tribes.
The orging of stirrups is one of the debating problems in medival archaeology in East Asia. In this study, author analyses the origin of stirrups and its diffusion to Eursian Steppe(Altai region). Until the use of metal stirrups in... more
The orging of stirrups is one of the debating problems in medival archaeology in East Asia. In this study, author analyses the origin of stirrups and its diffusion to Eursian Steppe(Altai region). Until the use of metal stirrups in Koguryo and Murung Xianbei, there were found some evidence of using stirrups(or foot-hanger for riding horse) in Xiongnu, India, and Xianbi arts. Probably these primitive stirrups were made of organic materials, and was not so popular in that time. The preoccupation of metal stirrups were occurred in the Liaoning area in the late 3th century A.D. ~ the early 4th century A.D. in the period of pre-Qianyan dynasty of Murong Xianbei. The metal stirrups were very soon adopted in Koguryo in 4th century A.D. which were known in mural tombs art and burial goods. The wide use of stirrups in Koguryo was due to the warfare conflict with Murong Xianbi.
The Koguryo stirrups found in wu'nü mountatin fortress, dated to the 4~5th century A.D. shows stirrups became to be made more practically. In the middle of 4th century A.D. Koguryo made warfare alliance with Ruanruan against Northern Wei(Tabugachi). Simultaneously, the first metal stirrups were found in Altai region from Kudyrge burial complex. Until the foundation of Turk Empire in 575, Turk people in Altai(Ashina stage) were subordinated to Ruanruan and occupied blacksmith works for them. This historial affairs coincidences with the appearance of metal stirrups in Altai region. So, author suggests that Koguryo alliance with Ruanruan promotes the heavy armour with stirrups producing in Altai region.
The current climate crisis calls for urgent collective actions by all who share this beautiful planet at all levels and in all sectors. We need to solicit collective wisdom in a timely manner, minimizing the adverse influences of climate... more
The current climate crisis calls for urgent collective actions by all who share this beautiful planet at all levels and in all sectors. We need to solicit collective wisdom in a timely manner, minimizing the adverse influences of climate change on the most vulnerable groups. Recent voices by young people advocating for more active climate actions also show the importance of youth engagement in identifying the path to a more sustainable future. In this context, the 53 rd issue of SangSaeng explores how climate change education can promote a shared awareness of our common destiny and pave the way to transform our mind-sets and educational systems. We are very privileged to share Helena Norberg-Hodge's insight and advice for the future in our Special Column. Taking a critical reflection of the existing dominant thinking, she emphasises the importance of an urgent paradigm shift from "globalization" to "localization" as a way of overcoming the climate crisis and transforming our lives. In the Focus section, based on the need for global transformation and empowering learners to take action for the climate, Alexander Leicht reflects on UNESCO's endeavours to promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to effectively address the climate crisis, and shares the outcome of UNESCO's latest consultations on the future of ESD. In a similar vein, pointing out the need to take a holistic approach and to reflect upon the current state of climate change education, Sun-Kyung Lee suggests that more inclusive and participatory multi-stakeholder dialogues should be further promoted. Paying attention to the need to ensure youth engagement and the importance of energy transition, Lynette Shultz and Carrie Karsgaard introduce a collaborative global initiative of developing an energy transition curriculum for a global online classroom for secondary school students. Shepherd
From an archaeological and historical standpoint, the Silk Road is neither a road nor a sudden manifestation in contemporary politics. The history of the Silk Road is one of a people who have borne harsh conditions for nearly 5,000 years.... more
From an archaeological and historical standpoint, the Silk Road is neither a road nor a sudden manifestation in contemporary politics. The history of the Silk Road is one of a people who have borne harsh conditions for nearly 5,000 years. A countless number of people in the western region are spread out hidden across the long history of East Asia. They are the real life of the Silk Road, not the temporary sojourners on it. The Silk Road is not the cultural heritage of any one country, but of many. Instead of using it as a symbolic acknowledgment for specific countries, we should see it as a nexus of exchange in world civilization.
This paper has looked at how the Silk Road, which was once valued as a hub for civilizational exchange, has ironically become a center of international conflict.
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This article presents the results of experiments aimed at testing the hypothesis that the mummifi cation of human bodies in Joseon Dynasty burials was caused by an exothermic reaction and the consequent destruction of intestinal fl ora.... more
This article presents the results of experiments aimed at testing the hypothesis that the mummifi cation of human bodies in Joseon Dynasty burials was caused by an exothermic reaction and the consequent destruction of intestinal fl ora. Well-preserved mummies of that period were discovered only in the Hoegwakmyo tombs, where the lime-soil-mixture barrier was present. Experiments were conducted using animals' bodies placed in miniature grave models. Immediately after contact with moisture, the temperature inside the coffi n surrounded by a lime-soil-mixture increased to 130.8±23.5°C and remained stable for 141.0±64.7 minutes. The examination of bacterial cultures on MacConkey or blood agar plates showed that the entire fl ora normally existing in the rat's intestine was completely sterilized by high temperature. We also demonstrate that the same mummifi cation can be reproduced regardless of the sizes of miniature graves.
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Joseon mummies have proved to be excellent subjects for scientific research on the health and disease statuses of pre-modern Korean peoples. Despite its academic significance, the origins of the Hoegwakmyo tomb in which the Joseon mummy... more
Joseon mummies have proved to be excellent subjects for scientific research on the health and disease statuses of pre-modern Korean peoples. Despite its academic significance, the origins of the Hoegwakmyo tomb in which the Joseon mummy was discovered have not yet been entirely revealed. Meanwhile, over the past several decades, there have been some reports on mummies and cultural artifacts preserved very well in the tombs of several Chinese dynasties (especially Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing). Although the Chi-nese tombs were very diverse in structure, we note that some graves among them were structurally very similar to Joseon Hoegwakmyo tombs. Before the Hoegwakmyo tomb in Korea, there were already similar tombs in China, inside which dead persons were mummified like the Joseon mummies. Considering that the Hoegwakmyo tomb of the Joseon Dynasty was established by the influence of the Confucian ideology, the Korean and Chinese mummies might share common cultural origins in history.
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Korean mummies have been discovered from the tombs of Joseon period (1392–1910 CE), especially date back to 15th to 18th century. As the mummies were preserved perfectly even after long time of burial, archaeologists, historians and... more
Korean mummies have been discovered from the tombs of Joseon period (1392–1910 CE), especially date back to 15th to 18th century. As the mummies were preserved perfectly even after long time of burial, archaeologists, historians and scientists could fi nd plenty of information from them, which shows a vivid glimpse of pre-modern Korean people's lives. Actually, though the presence of Korean mummies were already reported as early as 1960s, full-fl edged investigation began in 2001, being focused on the child mummy that was accidently discovered from a Joseon tomb made for high class people. After then on, besides the archaeological data concerning the cultural remains discovered in the tombs, a variety of scientifi c data were also obtained by different analyses using anatomical, histological, radiological, parasitologiccal, and biochemical techniques. In fact, such achievements about Korean mummies were made possible by interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars from different research fi elds, therefore contributing remarkably to our comprehensive understanding of Joseon society.
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Since 2015, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage has documented the exchange between civilizations across the Silk Road in various regions including Central Asia. The study of this cross-cultural exchange and its relation... more
Since 2015, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage has documented the exchange between civilizations across the Silk Road in various regions including Central Asia. The study of this cross-cultural exchange and its relation to ancient culture on the Korean peninsula is the basis of the ‘Research of Network for Heritages of Artistic Culture in Korea’ project.
The Xiongnu tombs are classified based on the intended occupant who was either a noble or commoner. The type of tomb determined factors such as the scheme of grave goods or tomb furnishings as well as the shape and structure of the tomb. The diverse variety of artifacts discovered in the tombs are important materials that serve as a preservation of the past Xiongnu culture and their social customs. a joint research endeavor was initiated in order to discover the connection between the ancient cultures of Xiongnu and the Korean peninsula. Particular emphasis was placed on studying the expansion of Northern grassland cultures through a detailed analysis of Xiongnu crafts and their production techniques.
My contribution to Encyclopedia of the Silk Road, Eastern Region of Xinjiang China, published by National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage p. 1055, 2019 , written in Korean. Wholly it includes a total of 439 entries, including 28... more
My contribution to Encyclopedia of the Silk Road, Eastern Region of Xinjiang China, published by National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage p. 1055, 2019 , written in Korean. Wholly it includes a total of 439 entries, including 28 overview entries that help understand the history and culture of the Silk Road and the Xinjiang region, and 411 entries on remains and artifacts in significant regions.
"Introduction to Archeology of Eurasian Archaeology" edited by Kang In Uk contribute cover South Siberia, Mongolia, Norther China(the Great Wall area), Manchuria and Korean Peninsula. Chronologically it covers from Paleolith to... more
"Introduction to Archeology of Eurasian Archaeology" edited by Kang In Uk contribute cover South Siberia, Mongolia, Norther China(the Great Wall area), Manchuria and Korean Peninsula. Chronologically it covers from Paleolith to Xiongnu-Xianbei period. In the first part, authors from Korea, China, Russia, and Mongolia contributed 7 chapters from from Paleolithic to the early Iron Age. In second part, authors discuss the ancient interaction between Northern Eurasia and Korean peninsula.