The large pottery jar refers to a large storage container. The appearance of the large pottery jar is considered to be closely related to the storage of redundant agricultural products produced as society and agriculture developed. Therefore, the larg...
The large pottery jar refers to a large storage container. The appearance of the large pottery jar is considered to be closely related to the storage of redundant agricultural products produced as society and agriculture developed. Therefore, the large pottery jar sometimes becomes a barometer for measuring the political development of a certain society.
Recently, a lot of kilns of the Hanseong Baekje era used to produce large pottery jars were discovered in Hwaseong and Yongin and other parts of southern Gyeonggi province. Especially the ruins of Hwaseong Cheonggyeri are very important because they contain a total of seven large kilns, around which production related facilities, such as works shops and waste dump sites, are organically stationed. In addition, quite a few large pottery jars are being excavated at the kilns and waste dump sites, providing new materials to research on the form and production techniques of large pottery jars.
This study analyzed the location and structure of Cheonggyeri kilns used to produce large pottery jars and looked into the form and production techniques of Cheonggyeri large pottery jars. Besides, it tried to examine the distribution channels of large pottery jars produced at Cheonggyeri kilns by inspecting the consumers of the jars.
Cheonggyeri kilns and other kilns discovered in southern Gyeonggi province were mostly constructed on the sides of hills around a river that were convenient to convey materials and products. The kiln was made of clay and consisted of several spaces, such as Yojeonbu, Yeonsobu, Soseongbu and Yeondobu, and a waste dumping site. As for its structure, it was mostly built into a semi-underground kiln in the shape of long oval with a slope of around 15 degrees. Such structure was meant to enhance heat efficacy, increasing the amount and quality of products.
As for the form of large pottery jars, the lips of the jars were mostly evaginated and neck parts were long. In addition, circle-shaped groove were placed on the bottom of the jar and lattice patterns and line patterns were inscribed on the body. Large pottery jars were produced in the dividing forming method. The part to be jointed with another wall were made bulgy and hollow with hand to make the parts joint solidly. Besides, the traces of clay which was used to enhance and strengthen the wall of the jar were also found. Especially, the outward of the jar was covered with clay and then pounded to remove airs on the inside of the wall and solidify the jointed part.
The firing of large pottery jars was examined on the basis of the ways of putting, taking out and piling large pottery jars at kilns. The putting and taking out large pottery jars were done while repeating the construction and dismantlement of kilns everytime the potteries were fired. These were presumed by the repairing traces on the floor and wall of a kiln. The method of piling large pottery jars can be explained though the circle-shaped groove on the floor of a kiln. It is considered that the jars were piled with their lower parts fixed to the bottom of the kiln and lip parts facing upward when they were fired, In addition, around the groove were stones, which were presumed to support the jars. The analysis of firing method and the size of the jars found that about 2~4 large pottery jars were produced from a kilns every firing. This lead to the speculation that the ruins of Cheonggyeri produced 15~20 jars when all the kilns were operated.
Large pottery jars, used as large containers, were mostly consumed in places where redundant agricultural products were produced and stored, That is, it is considered that powerful people in the capital or warehousing sites of massive community used them. The ruins in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, from which large pottery jars have been excavated, are located in capital region, such as Pungnaptoseong and Mongchontoseong, or strongholds such as Pocheon and Paju. This lead to the speculation that large pottery jars produced in Cheonggyeri were also supplied to the capital or nearby massive villages.
Cheonggyeri, Hwaseong is located on the important traffic way that links Pungnaptoseong and southern places, In addition, as it is located around a river, agriculture has developed and large villages have been settled for a long time. Therefore it is very likely that large pottery jars produced in Cheonggyeri were provided to the villages. Community ruins of the Hanseong Baekje near Cheonggyeri kilns were located in groups along Osan stream. The groups of ruins can be divided into ruins in Dongtan region including Gambae mountain ruins in Hawseong, ruins in Giheung-gu, Yongin-si and ruins in Ilwon, Osan-si.
It is thought that large pottery jars produced in Cheonggyeri kilns were supplied to the villages though roadways and waterways along Osan stream. The jars were distributed within 10 km from Cheonggyeri kilns. The ruins of Dongtan region covered 1~3km from Cheonggyeri kilns, the ruins of Osan region 4~7km and the ruins of Yongin 8~10km. As villages near Cheonggyeri kilns were located with some distance apart, it is considered that main supplier existed according to the distance from the kiln. In is thought that large pottery jars were vigorously supplied to villages in Dongtan region, the closest region to Cheonggyeri kilns. This can be explained not only in terms of Dongtan's distance from Cheonggyeri kilns but also in terms of the geographical location of Dongtan region. The ruins of Dongtan region is located close to a river, so agriculture has been practiced for a long time and plains have been made surrounding it. Therefore, it is presumed that large pottery jars produced in Cheonggyeri kilns were distributed based on the groups of ruins in Dongtan region.