The situation at the late-Silla period(下代) Paegang-jin(浿江鎭) and the nature of the artifacts excavated in Sanseong-ri, Pyeongsan

Author : Ko, Taejin

Page : 49-94

Abstract

 This research aims to review the nature of the artifact assemblage excavated in Sanseong-ri, Pyeongsan, Hwanghae-do, and further to reappreciate the atmosphere in the frontier society during the late-Silla period(下代), under the consideration that textual and archaeologicaldata need to be understood along with each other.

 The contexts surrounding the discovery of the assemblage can be found from the Japanese Government-General Museum of Korea document, which is now stored in the National Museum of Korea. Since the artifacts were discovered in a relatively shallow depth without any additional structures, it is unlikely that they were grave goods. The artifact assemblage is composed of decorative cup-shaped stirrups(壺鐙), flower-shaped bronze dishes, and bronze spoons, which are dated to the late 9th century CE.

 To understand the spatial meaning of the site where the artifacts were discovered, how Paegang-jin(浿江鎭) operated during the late-Silla period deserves consideration. The reconstruction of how the appointment rule according to governmental rank system worked in the 9th century Paegang-jin regarding its head, Dusangdaegam(頭上大監), reveals that the royals were sent and the ministers corresponding to the rule were appointed here, and in this regard, it operated quite normally. In 895, however, as Gungye's advance into this region became active, Paegang-jin came to its end in no more than 10 years.

 Recently, there is a strong trend to draw out ‘ritual meaning’ regarding the nature of the Sanseong-ri artifacts. However, it is still unclear what the ritual is, which required the sacrifice of the elaborately decorated artifacts in such a large amount. Therefore, until any additional contemporary data directly supporting the ‘ritual nature’ of the artifacts are presented, it would be reasonable to understand the Sanseong-ri artifacts as ‘hoards(退藏遺物)’, resulting from the political turmoil at the end of the 9th century.

 In the 9th century, Paegang-jin enjoyed the flower-shaped bronze dishes of similar origin to Chinese imperial family’s as well as the decorative cup-shaped stirrups hardly found even near the capital. It is time to reconsider the frontier society during the late-Silla period and in this regard, the status of the Sanseong-ri artifacts is quite significant.

<Key Word>​

Late-Silla Period(下代), Paegang-jin(浿江鎭), The artifacts excavated in Sanseong-ri Pyeongsan, Cup-shaped Stirrups(壺鐙), Bronze Tableware, Hoards(退藏遺物), Frontier