Copper ritual bowls of the 4th century BC found in Korea

Copper ritual bowls of the 4th century BC found in Korea. September. 27, 2016 07:38. by 김상운 기자sukim@donga.com.

Small and mirror shaped copper bowls have been found for the first time in Korea. They were presumed to be used for ritual ceremonies during the period of the fourth to the third century BC. They are considered to have a significant meaning to find out cultural exchanges with China in the Bronze Age as they have a similar shape with that of Chinese bowls in the Eastern region in those days.

"The Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation found 21 traces including pit tomb and dwelling of the Bronze Age, stone coffin of the early Iron Age, and Jugu (ditches nearby tombs) in the period of the Three States at a new construction site of Sanggok-ri, Hampyeong Country of South Jeolla Province," the Cultural Heritage Administration said. Among them were four pieces of mirror shaped bowls found at a stone coffin of the early Iron Age.

The bowls with a diameter of 6.2-6.4 centimeters were placed inside the tomb toward the North. The diameter of dome typed cooper bowls, which are similar to those and found in Dongseo-ri, Yesan County, are over 20 centimeters. The archaeological community suspected that each bowl was used for a different purpose based on their size. The four bowls found this time is expected to be made by using a same mold (wax casting method) as they have the same shape and size.

What’s interesting is that the excavation location is near the neck of corpses and certain parts of the bowls are worn out. Thus, it is highly likely that the corpses are buried by wearing the bowls that the owner of the tomb usually used. “It seems that the tomb owner is more like to be a ritual administrator, rather than a man in political power as no weapons are found in the tomb," the culture administration said. "Considering that, the mirror shaped copper could be used for ritual ceremonies to symbolize religious authority.”

Scholars take notice to the fact that mirror shaped copper bowls were mainly found in the eastern part of China. The slender bronze dagger culture of the Korean Peninsula, which was generated after the 3rd century BC, was substantially influenced by the Liaoning bronze dagger culture of the eastern China, which was blossomed earlier than ancient Korea.