Korean Archaeological Community Seeks New Interpretations of "Materiality"

National Archaeology Conference to Be Held at Kyungpook National University on November 7-8

Poster of the 49th National Conference on Korean Archaeology. Provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, under the Cultural Heritage Administration, announced on November 5 that it will co-host the 49th National Conference on Korean Archaeology with the Korean Archaeological Society at Kyungpook National University on November 7 and 8, under the theme "Archaeology and Materiality."

This conference has been organized to reflect a perspective that has recently gained attention in the global archaeological community. It aims to explore new interpretations and directions for practice by examining how material itself, rather than simply the products of human actions, has shaped human experience and social relationships.

A representative from the institute stated, "This will be an opportunity to review the achievements of Korean archaeology, which has conducted material-centered research so far, and to broaden perspectives on materiality."

The conference will feature a total of 116 presentations and comprehensive discussions, including 16 joint theme presentations, 85 free panel presentations, and 15 poster papers. On November 7, the sessions will be divided into topics such as "Affordance of Material and Archaeological Data" and "Retreat Processes of Artifacts and the Relationship between Material, Humans, and Nature," focusing on material analysis of stone, soil, and metals, as well as changes in archaeological sites such as dwellings and tombs.

The topics for each session on November 8 include: "Korean Archaeology from the Perspective of Foreign Researchers," "Advancements in Organic Residue Analysis and Trends in Experimental Replication: Interdisciplinary Research in Archaeological Science and Experimental Archaeology," "Research and Utilization of Non-attributed Heritage," "Archaeological Applications of pXRF (Portable X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer) Technology," "Current Status and Challenges of Megalithic Culture Worldwide," "The Future of Archaeology in the Digital and AI Era," "Ancient Steppe and Maritime Routes Heritage in 2025," "Excavation Achievements at Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120 in Gyeongju," "The History of Brewing through Archaeological Science," and "15 Years of Nationally Funded Excavation Projects."

In particular, the session on interdisciplinary research in archaeological science and experimental archaeology will present the results of the "Organic Residue Replication Study for the Restoration of Ancient Daily Life Culture," which has been conducted by the Conservation Science Laboratory of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage since 2023. The session will specifically examine the characteristics of organic materials as archaeological data through analysis methods and case studies.

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