Mujugun Completes Trial Excavation of Dangsan-ri Mountain Fortress and Bonghwa Ruins

A Small Number of Pottery Estimated from the Three Kingdoms to Unified Silla Period Confirmed... Cultural Heritage Designation Needed for Preservation and Management

[Muju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Muju County announced on the 30th that the trial excavation of the Muju Dangsan-ri Mountain Fortress and Beacon Site, which began last year, has been completed.

The trial excavation, conducted as part of the excavation and maintenance project of Gaya cultural heritage in the Jeonbuk region, is expected to provide important data for understanding the characteristics of relics in the eastern part of Jeonbuk.

Muju County, with advice from the Gaya Culture Research Institute of Kunsan National University, conducted an on-site review of the Muju Dangsan-ri Mountain Fortress and Beacon Site in 2021. As a result, they confirmed stone wall structures surrounding the summit of a 400m-high hill, where the Muju National Forest Fire Comprehensive Training Center is located, and stone structures presumed to be beacons.

Additionally, a detailed surface survey conducted in October 2021 discovered three beacon mounds (presumed beacon sites) distributed along the ridge of the mountain and partially constructed fortress walls (stone wall defense walls) around the beacon mounds.

The investigation confirmed the structure and form of a nearly square stone wall facility, approximately 6.9m east-west and 7m north-south, presumed to be a beacon platform. Below the stone wall structure, some stepped reinforcement sections built to strengthen the stone walls remain.

The construction of the beacon facility was identified as using roughly hewn stones stacked in a haphazard manner (a method of stacking stones of different sizes irregularly without aligning the joints), with the upper parts built with inwardly set facing stones to provide stability, which is a distinctive feature.

Notably, during this trial excavation, a small number of pottery shards presumed to be from the Three Kingdoms to Unified Silla periods were found.

At the academic advisory meeting held on the 19th, there was a consensus on the need for additional excavation to accurately understand the structure of the beacon site and the living facilities of those who operated the beacons at the time. Through this, it was agreed that the nature of the beacon site should be clarified and that designation as a cultural heritage site for preservation and management is necessary.

Meanwhile, since the site is adjacent to Muju-eup, Namdaecheon Stream, Jugye Fortress, Muju Daechari Burial Mounds, and the Muju Yongpo-ri Nogosan Beacon Site, it is expected to provide important data for understanding Muju’s history as a border area at the time.

Muju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.