Ancient Korean Art
Dolmen
Advances in metallurgy and agriculture led to a more complex society. This in turn, led to more complex burial processes. We, the people of Gojoseon have a wide-spread use of the dolmen as burial chamber, usually for the elite members of our society. These dolmen are upright rocks that support horizontal slabs. These burial sites contain rich earthenware and jade for the elite. GOJOSEON HAS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF DOLMEN IN THE WORLD!!!!
Advances in metallurgy and agriculture led to a more complex society. This in turn, led to more complex burial processes. We, the people of Gojoseon have a wide-spread use of the dolmen as burial chamber, usually for the elite members of our society. These dolmen are upright rocks that support horizontal slabs. These burial sites contain rich earthenware and jade for the elite. GOJOSEON HAS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF DOLMEN IN THE WORLD!!!!
Ancient Pottery
As the Gojoseon society experienced agricultural surplus, a social hierarchy was developed. Large capacity vessels and raised floors are reserved for the elite. The average person also requires the use of pottery for storage, leading to the creation of mumun pottery in 10th century BCE. This plain coarse pottery replaced comb patterned wares and are probably influenced by the incoming Manchurian and Siberian populations. This type of pottery has thicker walls and are built in a variety of shapes and sizes including jars with handles and bowls meant to be placed on pedestals. As time progressed, we, the people of Gojoseon, have improved kiln technology, resulting in harder mumun pottery. By 6th century BCE, we began using iron-rich earthenware to make our pottery. The iron-rich earth produces a red sheen when fired. This type of pottery is used in the dolmen and stone cists as well as to make bowls and footed cups. The people of Gojoseon also make eggplant-patterned jars with round bodies and flared rims. These jars are decorated with dark gray and brown elongated patterns, a pattern achieved by applying colored pigments directly onto the clay body. This technique is a total change from the incised and relief-applied wares that were common to the Neolithic time period.
As the Gojoseon society experienced agricultural surplus, a social hierarchy was developed. Large capacity vessels and raised floors are reserved for the elite. The average person also requires the use of pottery for storage, leading to the creation of mumun pottery in 10th century BCE. This plain coarse pottery replaced comb patterned wares and are probably influenced by the incoming Manchurian and Siberian populations. This type of pottery has thicker walls and are built in a variety of shapes and sizes including jars with handles and bowls meant to be placed on pedestals. As time progressed, we, the people of Gojoseon, have improved kiln technology, resulting in harder mumun pottery. By 6th century BCE, we began using iron-rich earthenware to make our pottery. The iron-rich earth produces a red sheen when fired. This type of pottery is used in the dolmen and stone cists as well as to make bowls and footed cups. The people of Gojoseon also make eggplant-patterned jars with round bodies and flared rims. These jars are decorated with dark gray and brown elongated patterns, a pattern achieved by applying colored pigments directly onto the clay body. This technique is a total change from the incised and relief-applied wares that were common to the Neolithic time period.
Bronze artifacts
Bronze used by the Koreans contain a higher content of zinc. The start of bronze manufacture in Korea is uncertain, but by 7th century BCE Gojoseon had entered its Bronze Age, after being influenced by northeastern China as well as Scythian and Siberian bronze styles. Bronze artifacts found predominantly in burial sites include daggers, spearheads, small bells, and decorated mirrors.
Bronze used by the Koreans contain a higher content of zinc. The start of bronze manufacture in Korea is uncertain, but by 7th century BCE Gojoseon had entered its Bronze Age, after being influenced by northeastern China as well as Scythian and Siberian bronze styles. Bronze artifacts found predominantly in burial sites include daggers, spearheads, small bells, and decorated mirrors.
Rock Art
Rock art dating back to the early Iron Age or late Bronze Age are in South East Korea. The best known site is Pan'gudae. These paintings portray hunting and fishing scenes with human figures and animals like deer, tigers, boar, whales, and other marine life. At another site, Ch'ônjôn-ri, these painting include geometric patterns including circles, spirals, and circles along with deer. These petroglyphs are part of religious beliefs or practices such as sun worship.
Rock art dating back to the early Iron Age or late Bronze Age are in South East Korea. The best known site is Pan'gudae. These paintings portray hunting and fishing scenes with human figures and animals like deer, tigers, boar, whales, and other marine life. At another site, Ch'ônjôn-ri, these painting include geometric patterns including circles, spirals, and circles along with deer. These petroglyphs are part of religious beliefs or practices such as sun worship.
- Lena K.