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Chungcheongbuk-do
Province
is the
only
land-locked
province
in Korea
and
has
largely
basin-like
terrain
with
two
major
rivers,
the
Geum-gang
and
Namhan-gang,
flowing
through
it.
The
geographical
characteristics
influenced
the
prehistoric
culture
of the
province
considerably.
The
Paleolithic
inhabitants
of the
region
led
a nomadic
life
hunting
and
gathering
food
and
taking
shelter
in temporary
dwellings
(camps)
and
caves.
Compared
to other
Korean
provinces,
Chungcheongbuk-do
Province
has
many
Paleolithic
sites
including
the
Durubong
Cave
in Cheongwon
as well
as the
Geumgul
Cave
and
Suyanggae
Site
in Danyang.
A number
of Paleolithic
artifacts
including
human
bones,
implements
made
from
bones
and
stones
and
animal
fossils
discovered
around
the
province
has
enable
the
study
of the
culture
and
natural
environment
of the
period.
Cultural
characteristics
of the
Neolithic
Age
included
habitation
of pit
shelters,
use
of pottery
including
burnished
pottery
and
the
beginning
of farming.
Major
Neolithic
sites
in the
province
are
those
in Ssangcheong-ri
in Cheongwon,
Jodong-ri
in Chungju
and
Sangsi-bawi
in Danyang.
Shell
bracelets
and
striped
clay
pottery
excavated
at the
site
of Sangsi-bawi
show
evidence
of exchanges
with
southern
Korean
coastal
areas
and
stone
farming
implements
from
the
site
in Ssangcheong-ri
in Cheongwon
point
to the
agricultural
life
in the
interior
of central
Korean
peninsula
toward
the
end
of the
Neolithic
Age.
Bronze
Age
inhabitants
led
a communal
life
and
their
livelihood
was
based
on agriculture.
They
lived
in pit
houses
and
their
tombs
were
marked
by dolmens,
stone
cists,
wooden
coffin
tombs
and
jar
coffins.
Both
plain
and
burnished
pottery
was
used
in daily
life
while
bronze
objects
symbolized
the
higher
status
of their
holders.
Bronze
Age
sites
of the
province
are
found
on the
banks
on the
Geum-gang
River
and
the
alluvial
plains
along
the
Namhan-gang
River.
They
included
those
in Yongam-dong
in Cheongju,
Jodong-ri
in Chungju,
Bongmyeong-dong
in Cheongju
and
Hwangseong-ri
in Jecheon.
The
objects
from
the
Biha-dong
site
in Cheongju
are
indicative
of the
characteristics
of the
Korean
bronze
dagger
culture
of the
4th
century
B.C.
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