A Study on the trade between Yeongnam and Northwestern Kyushu coastal regions: based on the aspect of fishing tools
Authors: Lee Sang Kyu 
Published: October 2020

The trade between Yeongnam and Northwestern Kyushu coastal regions (YNKR) had occurred around the Korea Straits and could be understood as an exchange between fishermen of the two regions in the nature of costal regions. In this study, I examine the trade based on fishing tools in accordance with the characteristics of the two regions sharing the common lifestyle and fisheries. The kinds of fishing tools can be divided into harpoons and fish hooks. The harpoons can be divided into stone and bone types depending on raw materials, and stationary and separable types on using method, having subdivisions. The fish hooks can be divided into composite, singular, and opposite T-shaped types. These tools are categorized into three based on the aspect to the two regions: high similarity, high difference, and different composition. The fishing tools from the both regions are similar in broader perspective but they are also very different in details at the same time, as a result of selective acceptance of shared information within common concept as tools, rather than trade and exchange of actual tools. The chronology of YNKR fishing tools has three phases. In the I phase, the Yeongnam region is dominated by ground stone artifacts and bone harpoons by influence of the East Sea region and tradition of common knapped stone artifacts. In terms of Northwestern Kyushu region, only knapped fishing tools has been found for the I phase, so it is assumed that the knapped stone artifacts tradition is popular in that region. In the II phase, the diversification of subsistance is conspicuous related to propagation of the early agriculture in the Yeongnam region, and harpoons and hooks are only found from certain sites such as Dongsam-dong and Yokji-do. Unlike the Iphase, the ground stone spear shaped harpoons disappear, and knapped stone spear shaped harpoons become thinner. When it comes to the Northwestern Kyushu region, knapped stone fishing tools has been continuously used in broaden area. In addition, obsidian module harpoon, composite hook, and singular hook are started to be used. The III phase in Yeongnam region, the aspect of fisheries considerably declines according to the social aspect of south of Korean Peninsula such as increased mobility, demolition of villages, and simplification of tools. On the other hand, Northwestern Kyushu region has the largest range of sites as well as shows a dramatic increase in the number of fishing tools. In addition, so-called ‘Northwestern Kyushu fishing culture’ represented by the combination of obsidian module harpoon and composite fish hook is completed. In summary, there is active trade between YNKR, and the routes are multilinear in the I phase. In the II phase, the route becomes unilinear, and it is centered around specific areas such as Dongsam-dong and Yokji-do, which strengthen fisheries. In the III phase, there are few voyages from Yeongnam to Kyushe, while the opposite route is busy. These aspects appear to be related to overall cultural transition, according to the environmental and cultural situation of the two regions, in addition to the relationship with adjacent regions.