Neolithic
The Korean Neolithic began around 10,000 years ago. The temperatures at this time had become warmer due to the end of the last ice age, resulting in higher sea levels which continued to change the appearance of the Korean peninsula’s coastline right up until around 6,500 years ago. It is the emergence of pottery that is used to define the beginnings of the Neolithic in Korea, rather than the emergence of animal domestication, farming and other indicators which are used elsewhere. The earliest known Neolithic pottery site is Gosan-ri on Jeju, an island which lies directly to the south of the mainland. This type of pottery incorporated the remnants of plant materials with clay to form a wide variety of shapes and styles. Because of the pliability of clay, Neolithic pottery ranged greatly in design, with styles seemingly different depending on location and date. There are examples of comb patterns, incisions, impressions and raised designs - some of which can be seen in the pictures. A much greater range of evidence exists for this period than the Palaeolithic, with some artefacts resembling those found earlier but with the addition of others, such as polished stone blades, querns (which grind grain) and whetstones. Evidence of farming and cultivating cereals is also seen during this period, along with many traces of fishing. The types of sea life consumed by Neolithic people can be found through the excavation of shell middens, which are concentrated amounts of shells and fish bones that sometimes include other artefacts. The petroglyphs at Daegok-ri, which form part of the July 2025 UNESCO World Heritage Bangucheon Stream inscription, are dated to the Neolithic based on depictions of animals and tools that match other evidence for the period, and include images of whale hunting with boats and the use of bows and arrows for hunting.
