Seen above is the ancient clay tablet claimed to be the nation's oldest historical record, dating back to the third century. Yonhap
Posted on 04/13/2005 10:03:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A newly found ancient tablet, alleged to be the nation's oldest written historic record, is stirring controversy in academia over its authenticity.
The Korea Land Corporation's museum on Monday announced that it had found a clay tablet, estimated to date to the third century during the Koguryo Kingdom (37 B.C. A.D. 668).
The museum claimed that the tablet, with 290 Chinese characters on historic accounts, was made around 150 years earlier than the Kwanggaetodaewangbi Monument , believed to be Korea 's oldest historical record. The monument was built in 414.
``Around 20 experts have studied and analyzed the material, calligraphic style and historical accounts of the tablet, we concluded that it was a genuine artifact dating to the King Tongchon era,'' the museum's researcher Shim Kwang-ju said. Tongchon ruled from 227 to 248 and foiled an invasion attempt by the Chinese ``Wi'' kingdom.
``The tablet describes the victory and following celebratory construction of a palace,'' Shim said. If genuine, the artifact is expected to rock the local archeological establishment, as academia has had to use few local records or Chinese documents to study ancient history.
According to the museum, the tablet was first found in Pyongyang in the 1930s and has been kept by a collector, who declined to be identified.
However, experts remain skeptical, saying the tablet has yet to undergo meticulous scrutiny. ``I heard about the findings. But there is no need to jump to conclusions. It needs time,'' professor Jeon Ho-tae of the University of Ulsan said.
Lim Ki-hwan, researcher of the Koguryo Research Foundation who studied the controversial piece in person, remained cautious. ``It needs further comprehensive work to come up with the final judgment,'' he said. ``At the moment, I can't say anything.''
Another professor, who declined to be named, said he is highly skeptical of its authenticity. ``When archeologists say they are not sure, in most cases, they are negative,'' he said.
Meanwhile, professor Seo Jeong-ho of the department of conservation science for cultural heritage at Kongju National University , confirmed that the artifact is at least 1,000 years old. ``We studied the piece with the thermo luminance analyzer and came up with the result,'' he said. ``But the figure is just a figure and does not guarantee the authenticity.''
The tablet is 30 centimeters long, 30 centimeters high and 5 centimeters thick. It is believed to have been attached to a tomb's interior wall by four molars on its sides.
BTTT
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Provenance is everything.
Big Chief and number 2 pencil bump.
Just because tests show it is at least 1,000 years old, it doesn't mean it is authentic.
Is it just me, or does that have a Danratheresque essence to it?
In any case it never ceases to amaze me every time I hear 'ancient' Korean dates mentioned that are so recent, given their neighbors.
It has been catching me by surprise for forty years...sometimes a slow learner.
Good night, Lucy, and thanks for truly promising to REALLY hold the ball for me tomorrow.
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