Posted on 05/31/2005 12:32:04 PM PDT by blam
Korea's Oldest Artificial Pond Discovered
By Kim Ki-tae
Staff Reporter
The nation¡¯s oldest artificial pond was found in Andong, North Kyongsang Province. The pond¡¯s construction dates back to the Bronze Age.
Museum of Dongyang University yesterday announced that the artificial pond was created at least 2,600 years ago, after examining the site where the pond used to be, a swampy place in Chojon-ni, Sohu-myon in the region.
It said the rectangular pond was formed in the valley area by digging paths from nearby streams. The artificial lake is estimated to be 50 meters long and 15 meters wide, with a depth of at least 2 meters. Its bottom is mostly flat with small bumpy parts.
The photo shows a bird¡¯s-eye view of the archeological site of an artificial pond in Andong, North Kyongsang Province. The pond is thought to date back to at least 2,600 years ago, making it the oldest artificial pond in the nation.
/ Courtesy of Museum of Dongyang University
A small stream entering the pond of around 3 meters wide and another at the other end around 2 meters wide is believed to be the way the ancient people controlled the water flow. It is likely the pond was once equipped with wooden tools to contain water for irrigation, but they seem to have been swept away, the museum said.
``We can assume that it was formed at least 2,600 years ago and it could date to as early as the 7th or 8th century B.C. after studying a number of ancient bowls and stone tools found on the bottom of the pond,¡¯¡¯ the museum¡¯s head Lee Han-sang told Yonhap News Agency.
The museum, which is located in Yongju, North Kyongsang Province, has been examining the site since March after receiving a request from a local office of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation.
``The fact that such an artificial pond was made during that era is an epochal discovery,¡¯¡¯ Kyongnam University professor Lee Sang-gil, an expert in the Bronze Age, told the news agency.
GGG Ping.
The nation¡¯s oldest artificial pond was found in Andong, North Kyongsang Province while loading weapons into a new missile silo was under way. Researchers are ecstatic at the find, but will most likely be burnt to a crisp if care is not taken during the loading process. This also would be the fault of the Capitalist Aggressors in the South.
I thought it was North Korea. Oops. Well, that just means it'll be on their (NK's) target list.
Bottom is flat with small bumpy parts. Snicker. Me go now.
Did they discover the landscaper's bill?
It is sacrilegious to examine the site where the pond used to be!
I am outraged and must now go riot.
Snicker? I was thinking Baby Ruth.
Thats gotta be older than dirt!
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
I thought there was a topic on FR about this, but I couldn't find it in the GGG list or using the search engine on the home page.
http://www.archaeology.org/curiss/newsbriefs/world.html#asia_pacific
Korea
"Archaeologists are trying to determine the authenticity of a tablet that, if real, will be the country's oldest written document. The Korea Land Corporation Museum recently announced its ownership of a clay tablet that seems to date to the era of King Tongchon (r. A.D. 227-248). It describes his victory over a Chinese army that attempted to invade Korea. The museum says the tablet was discovered in Pyongyang some 70 years ago and was owned by an anonymous collector."
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