Seoul Amsa-dong Prehistoric Site서울 암사동 유적

About

Seoul Amsa-dong Prehistoric Site, one of the most representative prehistoric sites in Korea, is a Neolithic site on the bank of the Hangang River, facing Achasanseong Fortress. Three cultural layers have been identified, and radiocarbon dating places the site between 4,000 and 3,000 BC. Several rounds of excavation have uncovered dwelling sites with their associated features, as well as stone-pile structures. The site preserves traces of the lives of Neolithic people who lived by fishing and gathering along the Hangang River. The dwellings were dug into the ground in a round or round-cornered square shape, about 5–6 m long and 70–100 cm deep. A stone-lined hearth can be seen in the center of the dwellings, and the entrances mostly face south. There are usually four post holes, suggesting that posts were set at the corners to hold up a roof. Many pieces of pointed-bottom comb-pattern pottery were found, along with stone axes, net sinkers, and charred acorns. Seoul Amsa-dong Prehistoric Site is the representative Neolithic site of the Hangang River basin and is of great importance as the largest village-scale Neolithic site identified in Korea to date. It has also yielded many artifacts that show how people lived at the time.