▲ This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, shows the investigation area for the "Yukgyetoseong Earthen Fortificatio." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, shows Panchuk central section of Paju Yukgyetoseong Fortress. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)▲ This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, shows the panoramic view of the center section of Paju Yukgyetoseong Fortress. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, shows a view of the intersection of the central section of the Paju Yukgyetoseong and the central section of Panchuk. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, July 26 (Yonhap) -- "Yukgyetoseong Earthen Fortification," also known as Toseong in the flat land of Hanseong Capital, has been revealed to have been constructed between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.

On Monday, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage released some information found during the excavation and investigation of Yukgyetoseong Earthen Fortification in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

"As a result of investigating the interior area of the eastern wall, it has been revealed that the Yukgyetoseong Fortress was first built in the early Baekje period," a researcher explained.

The researcher came to this conclusion based on the "panchuck" technique, a typical ancient engineering / construction technique for building plinths and alike of walls, fences and buildings, for which a framework is alternatingly filled with soils and/or sands of diverse attributes, which are then rammed (tamped) with bats or rammers until they are firm.

As a result of the investigation, a piece of earthenware (sculpture) presumed to have been made in the Baekje period was unearthed from the panchuk layer.

Most importantly, according to the results of radiocarbon dating on a charcoal sample extracted from the panchuk layer, it was dated back to between the late 3rd and early 4th century. This means that the earthen fortress was highly likely that it was built during the same period.

The latest investigation of Yukhyetoseong, Paju provided new perspectives on construction techniques of early Baekje period.

It was found that some sections of the east wall of Yugyetoseong were similar to Pungnaptoseong as the panchuk method were used after a box-shaped wooden box were installed, and mud with equal thickness were stacked layer by layer.

This technique was confirmed to be used from about 18m north from the estimated point of "Dongmunji," about 150m south of the northeast corner. It is presumed that the dark brown clay and yellowish brown sandy soil were alternately stacked.

The Earth heaping method, where it often refers to heaping soil and building it up, was used. In the area 32m north from the panchuk area, the researcher conveyed that the soil was piled high on the outside and was then filled with soil again on the inside.

"While it is similar to Pungnaptoseong, a representative fortress of the Hansong Period of Baekje, it has a different unique aspect in that it uses both printing and filling techniques," the researcher said.

Yukgyetoseong, located in Juwol-ri, Jeokseong-myeon, Paju, meets the Imjin River flowing like a snake.

Although there is a record in the documents of the Joseon Dynasty and the maps of the Japanese colonial period that this is the site of a old fortress, it is not clear who and when it was made.

However, as certain areas within this archaeological site have been re-examined, relics similar to Pungnaptoseong, as well as earhernware from Baekje and Goguryeo were discovered, drawing attention from the academia.

Based on the results of this excavation, the researcher will hold a field briefing session on the afternoon of July 27.

"We plan to further inquire into the structure and interior operation systems of Yukgyetoseong Earthen Fortification through the academic exploration on the interior area of the eastern wall and presumed inner wall late this year," said an official from the research institute.

 

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

 

 

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