Korea's Neolithic and Bronze Age art reveals a fascinating evolution of culture and technology. From the intricate comb-pattern pottery to the plain Mumun ware, these ceramics reflect changing lifestyles and agricultural practices.

Impressive funerary monuments like dolmens and Goguryo-style tombs showcase ancient Koreans' beliefs about the afterlife. Bronze artifacts, including mirrors and daggers, highlight their metalworking skills and growing social complexity.

Neolithic Pottery in Korea

Comb-Pattern Pottery and Jeulmun Period

• Comb-pattern pottery developed during the early Neolithic Jeulmun period (8000-1500 BCE) in Korea
• Created by pressing or dragging a comb-like tool into the surface of the wet clay before firing
• Resulted in distinctive parallel lines and geometric patterns on the pottery surface
• Jeulmun period pottery is characterized by its deep bowls with pointed bottoms and wide mouths
• Pottery was used for cooking, storage, and serving food (fish, shellfish, nuts, and wild plants)

Mumun Pottery Development

• Mumun pottery emerged during the late Neolithic period (1500-300 BCE) in Korea
• Named after the lack of surface decoration compared to earlier comb-pattern pottery ("mumun" means "no pattern" in Korean)
• Characterized by plain, undecorated surfaces and more diverse shapes (jars, cups, and bowls)
• Reflects a shift in subsistence patterns from hunting and gathering to agriculture
• Coincided with the introduction of rice cultivation and the establishment of settled farming communities

Funerary Monuments and Tombs

Dolmen Structures

• Dolmens are megalithic tomb structures built during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods in Korea
• Consist of two or more large stone slabs supporting a flat capstone to create a chamber
• Used for collective burials and often contained grave goods (pottery, stone tools, and jewelry)
• Dolmens are found throughout the Korean Peninsula, with concentrations in the western and southern regions
• Reflect the emergence of social hierarchy and the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Korean society

Goguryo-Style Tombs

• Goguryo-style tombs developed during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE-668 CE) in Korea, particularly in the Goguryo kingdom
• Characterized by their large, mounded earth structures with stone chambers and corridors
• Tombs were built for the elite class, including kings, nobles, and high-ranking officials
• Interior walls of the tombs were often decorated with colorful murals depicting daily life, mythological scenes, and the afterlife
• Famous examples include the Anak Tomb No. 3 and the Gangseo Daemyo Tomb, which showcase the artistic and architectural achievements of the Goguryo period

Bronze Age Artifacts

Bronze Mirrors and Their Significance

• Bronze mirrors were popular luxury items during the Korean Bronze Age (1000-300 BCE)
• Consisted of a polished bronze disc with a handle or knob on the back for holding
• Often decorated with intricate geometric patterns, animal motifs, and mythological scenes
• Mirrors were believed to have religious and symbolic significance, possibly used in shamanic rituals or as status symbols
• Reflects the advanced metalworking techniques and artistic skills of ancient Korean craftsmen

Weapons and Tools: Mandolin-Shaped and Liaoning-Style Daggers

• Mandolin-shaped daggers, named after their resemblance to the musical instrument, were a distinctive type of bronze weapon in ancient Korea
• Characterized by their broad, leaf-shaped blades and short, circular pommels
• Liaoning-style daggers, named after the Liaoning region in northeastern China, were another type of bronze weapon found in Korea
• Distinguished by their slender, triangular blades and animal-shaped pommels (birds, horses, or dragons)
• Both types of daggers were used as weapons and ceremonial objects, reflecting the increasing social stratification and military power of the Korean Bronze Age societies