- Title : Reconsideration of the Role of Ulleung Island in the Prehistoric and Ancient East Sea Rim Interaction Network
- Author : KO Ilhong
- Journal : The Journal for the Studies of Korean History
- Publication Date : November, 2022
- Abstract
Inferences about the nature of Unsan-guk indigenous society around the time of the Silla General Isabu’s conquest have mainly been made based on the historical texts and the archaeological record. Due to the uncritical acceptance of the archaeological data, however, the view that people who had settled in Ulleung Island since the Bronze Age had developed into the polity that came to be known as ‘Usan-guk’ has gained currency. In particular, there seems to be the implict view that the pathway towards social complexity in Ulleung Island was similar to that observed for the polities of the mainland. However, such a view acts to inhibit the active discussion of the role of Ulleung Island in the prehistoric and historic East Sea Rim interaction network. Therefore, this paper reviews the so-called ‘prehistoric’ archaeological data from Ulleung Island through methods such as direct observation, expert consultation, and the review of current interpretations. As a result, it was confirmed that, although an artifact dating undeniably to the Neolithic period is present (in the form of a distinctive, large fish-net sinker), the red burnished pottery examples that had been dated to the Bronze Age more likely date to the historic period, and that there is no concrete evidence that the artifacts believed to date to the Bronze Age can be dated as such. Based on this empirical review of the archaeological data, the nature of the group that resided in Ulleung Island prior to Isabu’s conquest is discussed. It is suggested that, in the Neolithic period, the island was a place where food resources were acquired and only seasonal occupation took place. It is also proposed that Ulleung Island was not occupied intensively or permanently for a certain period of time following the transition to the Bronze Age as a result of the adoption of new subsistence strategies. From the 2nd century BCE, the importance of Ulleung Island was highlighted as a marine network was formed and began to operate in the waters of the Korean Peninsula. By viewing the indigenous society of Ulleung Island as that which had grown based on marine resources or trade, rather than intensive agriculture, it was possible to adopt a new understanding of Ulleung Island’s role in the prehistoric and historic East Sea Rim interaction network. In particular, it was inferred that Ulleung Island had played an important role in expanding the range of the seas that could be navigated using the method of coastal navigation by being located in the center of the East Sea.
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