ARCHAEOLOGIA JAPONICA

Korean Peninsula
TAKATA Kanta1
In this article, trends of Korean Peninsula related or Japan-Korean relationship related
studies in fiscal 2011 are discussed.
Comprehensive History: The first thing that should be mentioned is publication ofChosenshi Kenkyu Nyumon (Introduction to Korean History Study) (Nagoya: Nagoya
Daigaku Shuppankai), edited by Chosenshi Kenkyukai. The latest research fromprehistoric to contemporary was told in plain style. Nikkan Shuraku no Kenkyu:Yayoi/Kofun Jidai Oyobi Mumon Doki - Sangoku Jidai (Study on Japanese and Korean
Villages: Yayoi/Kofun Period and Mumun Pottery Period to Three Kingdoms of Korea) isthe latest result that opens new Japan-Korea village study. It is the last report of Nikkan
Shuraku Kenkyukai, which was found in 2005 by Japanese and Korean researchers andhas been promoting synthetic study on villages since then.
Publication of Books and Theses: While Kokuri Hekiga to Higashi Ajia (Goguryeo
Wall Painting and East Asia) (Tokyo: Gakuseisha) by AZUMA Ushio, who has beenleading East Asian archaeology for many years, had a viewpoint on wall painted mounded
tombs of Goguryeo, it also pursued wall paintings in Japan, China and Asia thoroughmutual comparison. ISAHAYA Naoto’s Tohoku Ajia ni Okeru Kiba Bunka noKokogakuteki Kenkyu (Archaeological Study on Equestrian Culture in Northeast Asia)(Tokyo: Yuzankaku) is an ambitious work that tried to reconstruct the chronology of alarge area over Japan, China, and Korea through typological analysis of horse riding
equipment and its combinations. Not only did he discuss exchange but also posited thepossibility of bulk production of early horse riding equipment by the Wa sovereignty.
The latest research results of the Korean academic world were published on
keyhole-shaped mounded tombs around Yoengsan River, Korean Peninsula: Daehan
Institute of Cultural Properties (ed.) Kanhanto no Zenpo Koenfun (Kenhole-shaped
Mounded Tomb of the Korean Peninsula) (Seoul: Gakkenbunkasha). It is based on a
discussion-type academic seminar held in August 2010, and it contains theses by four
researchers who have different views on the buried and construction background. It also1National museum of Japanese history, 117 Jonai-cho, Sakura City, Chiba 285-0017, Japan(kanta24@rekihaku.ac.jp)
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TRENDS IN JAPANSES ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES ABROAD

outlines unexcavated keyhole-shaped mounded tombs, and contains over 100 pages ofcomprehensive discussion. HABUTA Yoshiyuki and Takasaki City (ed.) Tago-hi ga
Kataru Kodai Nihon to Toraijin (Ancient Japan and Immigrants Spoken by Tago-hi Stone
Monuments) (Tokyo: Yoshikawa Kobunkan) the discussed historical background of
Tago-hi stone monuments during the formation of Tago county in the southwestern part ofKozukenokuni, and it described immigrants of that time and characteristics of eastern
society
Academic History: There was publication of three reports by Gyeongju National
Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Gyeongju City that are important not only
academically but for academic history: Report on Precision Surveying on Silla MoundedTombs and Distribution Research, Excavation Research Data of Silla Mounded Tombs
under Japan’s Occupation, and Excavation Research of Kumgwan-chong in Gyeongju.
In South Korea, research results are outstanding for excavated writings in recent years.
For example, “Writings and After: Ancient Writings of South Korea” was held at National
Museum of Korea in October and November, 2011. Excavated writings from the Korean
Peninsula were exhibited together as well as many writings excavated from JapaneseIslands. The pictorial record book for the exhibition was quite substantial, and it wasedited with an intention to compare ancient writing use in both regions.
As for the field of technological history and natural scientific analysis, the 5th conventionof the Society for the History of Asian Casting Technology was held on August 27th and28th, 2011. The reference material contained 32 theses on the history of casting
technology in Japan/China/Korea, and natural scientific analysis.

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