This Study focuses on propose a unique typological classification system for the pottery with the triangular clay band rim in the Early Iron Age of Southwestern Jeollanam-do, reflecting its distinct regional characteristics. The Honam region, in parti...
This Study focuses on propose a unique typological classification system for the pottery with the triangular clay band rim in the Early Iron Age of Southwestern Jeollanam-do, reflecting its distinct regional characteristics. The Honam region, in particular, exhibits a clear separation between the culture of the round clay band rim pottery in the Mangyeonggang River basin and the culture of the triangular clay band rim pottery in the Yeongsangang River basin.
This research seeks to overcome the limitations of uniformly applying the conventional Yeongnam from classification system to the entire Honam region. Accordingly, a new formal classification was performed on 602 specimens excavated from the Haenam Gungok-ri Shell Midden and the Gwangju Sinchang-dong Site, combining the cross-section shape and the inner rim contour of the pottery. The results confirmed a clear differentiation into the Gungok-ri Type and the Sinchang-dong Type in Southwestern Jeollanam-do.
The Gungok-ri Type is predominantly characterized by forms created by applying pressure to both sides of the clay band to form a triangle, a technique similar to the Neukdo-style pottery. This suggests that the Gungok-ri group, founded on the Songgukri culture, openly accepted the triangular clay band rim pottery and developed into a ceremonial-centered polity through external exchange.
In contrast, the Sinchang-dong Type shows a traditional trend, dominated by the A and B forms that strongly imply the traditional manufacturing tradition of the round clay band rim pottery. This suggests that the group established an agrarian-centered social structure through the use of abundant wooden farming tools excavated from Sinchang-dong, maintaining strong local traditions. While the political prestige goods show a pattern contrasting with those of Gungok-ri, the production techniques for iron and wooden artifacts were selectively accepted via the southern coastal exchange network, whereas the bronze artifacts, like the pottery, maintained indigenous styles.
In conclusion, the Early Iron Age in Southwestern Jeollanam-do exhibits a developmental patterns divided into two parts between Gungok-ri, representing the coastal area and Sinchang-dong, representing the inland area. This pattern is clearly identifiable through the distinct pottery assemblages of the two sites. The clarification of this dual development provides a crucial basis for understanding The differentiation of exchange networks of the Jeollanam-do chiefdoms during this period.