The purpose of the present research is to analyze double-ear pottery which is typical earthenware of Mahan, to examine its changing process, and to understand cultural situations of Mahan and Baekje at the time based on this.
Double-ear pottery is ch...
The purpose of the present research is to analyze double-ear pottery which is typical earthenware of Mahan, to examine its changing process, and to understand cultural situations of Mahan and Baekje at the time based on this.
Double-ear pottery is characteristic earthenware used in Southwest Region of Korea in the 3rd to 6th century, and means earthenware that the ears with holes in the upper end of flat-bottomed or round-bottomed body are adhered symmetrically.
This earthenware was first accepted Southwest region of Korea in around the 3rd century, was used in several countries of Mahan, and is containing important information on expansion and distinction of Mahan power in relation with national growth of Baekje.
Double-ear pottery is classified into 9 kinds of forms according to its bottom shape and hole-piercing direction of the ear part. Based on form classification like this, the present thesis found out morphological change patterns of double-ear pottery by trying various statistical analyses. As a result, double-ear pottery is divided into type I(flat-bottomed)type II(round-bottomed)type III(flat-bottomed type that removed angles)type, and these are changing not transitionally but sequentially(or complexly, connectedly). And according to the hole-piercing direction of the ear part, it is changed from type A(longitudinal hole-piercing)→type B(transverse hole-piercing), and the body form gradually gets slender and long and the plasticity level becomes harder.
The changing process of double-ear pottery was divided into 4 periods based on this form classification and characteristics of accompanied remains. Its content is as follows.
The period I is early and middle 3rd century, is a period that double-ear pottery first appears, and the initial shape of forms IㆍIIㆍIII appears. These double-ear pottery appears in burial remains with the center of the Miho stream basin and Geum River midstream basin, This period is a period that the Mahan group had independent forces according to each region, and the shape of double-ear pottery was not standardized and its characteristics are that material is coarse and the mesh style and zen style patterns are printed.
The period II is from late 3rd century to middle and last 4th century, and while the number of double-ear pottery rapidly increases, double-ear pottery is used in a memorial service held before the grave as well as residential places. As a memorial service held before the grave, the Togwangmyo(pit-tomb) and Bungumyo(mounded tomb with an encircling ditch) are generally confirmed, and four-holed pillar type dwellings and none-holed pillar type dwellings are overall confirmed as a square style. Double-ear pottery is gradually changed to standardized shape compared to the period I, and the concave bottom shape(b type) is added in type I. The transverse(B type) hole-piercing direction is added in the ear part's shape, so diverse double-ear pottery is unearthed. Also, in this period, other kinds of double-ear pottery such as pottery with double mouth rim type, long oval shaped pot type, mortar type, etc. are also added, so it can be thought that double-ear pottery was most popular in this period.
In addition, in this period, while Baekje preparing a national frame expand its territory, the Mahan group close to Hanseong Baekje in a location gradually becomes Baekje-like. Accordingly, the Geum River midstream basin shows characteristics that double-ear pottery of hard form II(round-bottomed) and many ironware appears together due to influence of Baekje.
The period III is from late 4th century to mid 5th century, and is a stage that use of double-ear pottery is rapidly reduced. This aspect is related to what the Mahan power is reduced by occupation of the Midwest region by Baekje. In this period, double-ear pottery is mainly unearthed from Bungumyo of a Yeongsan River's basin and residential places of the West region of Jeonnam. Its plasticity level is mostly hard, and the Seungmun style pattern appears in some double-ear pottery while no-pattern type decreases.
The period IV is from mid 5th century to early 6th century, and is a period that double-ear pottery disappears. In this period, Baekje integrates most Mahan power and become to establish a local governance system. Double-ear pottery is confirmed very rarely in large-scaled Bungumyo and Seo-kseelmyo in the Jar-coffin tomb step. Baekje-like elements are confirmed in shape of double-ear pottery.
Like this, double-ear pottery unearthed in the Southwest region of Korea was first buried in a tomb, and since the period I, it is also used in residential remains with the appearance of new types, and it is judged that it is not used in residential remains with the end of the East region of Jeonnam and was popular mainly as buried earthenware since the period II. It become disappeared lastly in the Yeongsan River's basin in a period that earthenware with the hollow inside and wide opening and Flat cup with Cover are accompanied. These research results are showing that the changing process of double-ear pottery has deep linkage with existence and extinction of Mahan. Also, this aspect is saying that double-ear pottery is important material that can represent political, social and cultural relations between two political bodies called Mahan and Baekje.