There has been a presence of human life on the Korean Peninsula for thousands of years, and despite a lack of clear written records about Korea’s ancient history during pre-historic times, there is a vast amount of paintings, rock carvings and grave markers that help give an insight how the earliest people on the Korean Peninsula lived. Here is an introduction to Ancient Korea.
Periods of history in Ancient Korea
Palaeothilic Period (40,000 B.C.E – 4000 B.C.E)
The Palaeolithic humans that inhabited the Korean peninsula at this time were hunters and gathers and often lived in caves or basic shelters built above ground. Not much is known about these people, but based on evidence from archaeologists, it seems that they did live in small communities, and basic pottery and tools have been found from this era.
Neolithic Period (4000 B.C.E – 300 B.C.E)
It is believed that the Neolithic people in ancient Korea were amongst the same who had settled in Siberia at the same period of time. Life during the Neolithic period became more communal, and it is at the time evidence of small villages and clans formed with bloodlines defined communities and laws. Evidence of Neolithic Korean civilization is often found around seashores and riverbanks, as seafood and fishing became the most prominent hunting method for clans. Based on wall paintings it is also theorized that people living during this time practiced nature worship and believed peoples, animals and objects had souls
Bronze Age period
Towards the end of the Neolithic period, a massive lead happened in terms of societal development. This is where we start to see the use of bronze farming tools and weaponry as well as the cultivation of rice. Sophisticated political systems begin to pop up, and cities began to appear.
At the end of the Bronze Age Korea moved into the Three Kingdoms period.
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