• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 1994

Molluscs from the Neolithic shell middens (Sugari, Pudjeong, Tongsamdong, Sangnodaedo, Sandeung, Yondaedo, Songdo and Kupyongri) in the southern coast, Korea, consisted of marine, fresh-water and land molluscs. Among these, intertidal species were exploited most abundantly as food resources, indicating a high dependence of intertidal shellfish collection activities. Especially oysters were the most abundant in these sites except Tongsamdong where mussels were predominant, indicating oysters were the most important food resources. Land snails from the sites consisted of woodland and open land species. Woodland species were more abundant than openland species, suggesting that there was a woodland environmint around the sites. Marine and land mollusc species from the sites are common in these rigions today, indicating no large-scale emvironmental changes have occurred since these middens formation period.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.837-855
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• 2013

The remains and relics such as wood vessel, shell middens and acorn hollows related to marine environments were excavated at Bibong-ri, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, approximately 70km apart from the Nakdong River mouth. The sea-level changes were reconstructed based on characteristics of shell middens and acorn hollows, sedimentary facies, AMS dating, and diatom analysis. The shell middens and acorn hollows were constructed during the early Neolithic Age and provide information on the paleo-sea level, because of influences of marine processes. The sedimentary facies are classified into a bedrock, base gravel and Holocene sediment (marine, terrestrial and back marsh sediments), upward. The sea level fluctuated during the middle Holocene is in harmony with those in Sejuk-ri, Ulsan and Pyeongtaek. In particular, the sea level at Bibong-ri of study area was higher than the mean high tidal level in Gimhae by approximately 1m during 5,000yr BP and maintained the stable condition during 4,000yr BP.

• KOMUNHWA
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• no.61
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• pp.95-128
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• 2003

Shell middens, so called waste sites, are the remains made by files of wastes after the sources are used from the natural and artificial environment. The relic things, excavated in shell middens are usually found to be broken and hard to recognize the ori

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2013

In this study, growth-line analysis was carried out on the hard clam (Meretrix petechialis) collected from the Neolithic shell middens in Daejuk-ri, Seosan, Korea, to reconstruct palaeoenvironment. Growth increments of 206 specimens of the clam were examined. The ages of the specimens were determined from the rings on the shells. The relationship between shell length and ring radius in each ring group was expressed as a regression line, indicating a correspondence in each ring formation. Growth pattern of the midden specimens was compared to that of modern ones collected from Gimje, Jeonbuk. Growth curves for shell length fitted to the von Berta anffy's growth curve were expressed respectively as follows: $SL_t=102.9025[1-e^{-0.18657(t+1.0906)}]$ in the shell midden specimens, $SL_t=104.2583[1-e^{-0.2277(t+0.7499)}]$ in the modern ones. The relationship between shell length (SL; mm) and shell height (SH; mm) was expressed by the following equations: SH = 0.7791 SL + 3.6636 ($R^2$ = 0.946) in the midden specimens, SH = 0.8103 SL + 0.5145 ($R^2$ = 0.991) in the modern ones. The results of the tests regarding the differences between regression coefficients and elevations of growth curves of these two populations demonstrate that the slopes were not significantly different (p < 0.05), but the elevations were (p > 0.05). However, overall growth curves of the midden and modern populations were not significantly different, indicating that shell growth environments of the two areas are similar. Therefore, it is likely that sea temperature near the midden area could be similar to that of present Gimje area, and thus temperature during the period of the midden formation could be higher than presently known.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.39
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• pp.39-58
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• 2006

This study reviews recent shell midden studies in Korea. With more interest in biological materials, recent shell midden studies have attempted to reconstruct palaeoenvironment, and understand subsistence economy, the formation processes and function of sites and past culture. Especially, one of the major topics in prehistoric Korean shell midden studies is the transitional process from hunter-gatherer to farmer. To solve these questions related with shell middens, new sampling strategies and excavation techniques have been adopted. Analytical methods combined with scientifical technologies also have been introduced to shell middle studies. These methods indude stable isotope analyses(Oxygen isotope and Carbon and Nitrogen isotope analyses) and growth-line analysis, etc.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2013

In this study, growth-line analysis was carried out on the hard clam (Meretrix petechialis) recovered from the Neolithic Age Daejuk-ri Shell Middens, Seosan, Korea, with aim to determine the seasonality of shellfish collection and site occupation. Growth increments of 206 specimens of the clam were examined. The marginal index (MI) of the archaeological specimens was calculated and was compared to the monthly marginal index of modern specimens under the assumption that the growth pattern was the same as it is today. MI of the archaeological specimens ranged from 0.13 to 1.29 and was divided into four categories: < 0.63, spring; 0.63-0.76, summer; 0.76-0.89, fall; $$\geq_-$$ 0.89, winter collection. As a result, of 206 specimens, 170 specimens (82.5%) represented spring, 18 (8.7%) summer, 10 (4.9%) fall and 8 (3.9%) winter collection. The results suggest year-round shellfish collection at the sites, with an emphasis on spring. Considering these results it can be inferred that the sites were occupied throughout the year.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.447-463
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• 2022

The lime and clay that used in the construction of the Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs in Gongju are auxiliary materials, and are used joint and plaster materials for the wall to play a role of structural support. In this study, the homogeneity between the tombs and material characteristics were interpreted through quantitative analysis of lime and clay. As a result of microtexture and composition analysis, almost the same minerals were identified in each sample groups, and similar characteristics were shown in thermal analysis. Geochemically, it is confirmed that the behavior characteristics are very similar regardless of the tombs. The compositions is also confirmed high homogeneity in the diagrams of CaO-MgO-SiO₂, RO₂-(RO+R₂O) correlations, A-CN-K and A-CNK-FM triangles. Therefore, it is interpreted that the clay used for the construction of the tomb complex was supplied from around area, and the raw materials of lime were produced using shell fragments of oyster family based on mainly composed of calcite. It is interpreted that the raw materials of lime were supplied from middens along the west coast of down the Geumgang river in Korean peninsula, but the consideration of the supply site, needs to be cross-validated through stable isotope analysis, use of carbonate rock and reproduction experiments.

• KOMUNHWA
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• no.70
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• pp.63-88
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• 2007

The purpose of this writing is to examine the places and instruments of the dissection for deformed animal carcasses excavated in shellfish stacks of the period of the Proto-Three Kingdoms(삼한) and the Three Kingdoms(삼국). The remains were chosen, which had been excavated and finished in the analysis of the animal carcasses, and the main objects are all shells and deer, especially among Mammalia. As the result, the dissection of shells was not taken place in the habitats of the animals, but inside or around of the residence of the people. For deer, too, it was done in the public place or specific area around and inside the residence. As concerns the method of dissection for shells, for Pelecypoda(부족류), represented by Meretrix lusoria(백합), the inner meat was taken out by wrenching the shell with a kind of small knives, or by boiling, and sometimes by cracking the middle of the shell in the case of big Meretrix lusoria and Dosinorbis japonicus(떡조개). For Rapana venosa(피뿔고둥), representative of Gastropoad(배발류), the people broke the top or some parts of the body to get the inner meat or used some kind of needles and stylus to pick the inner meat out after boiling. Abalones‘ meat was attached firmly to the shell, so very sharp and proper metal instruments were used to take the meat out Relatively small-sized Reishia clavigera(대수리),Top shell(밤고둥) meats were taken out by breaking the top parts after boiling, then sucking the meats, or by picking them out by using needles and stylus in the original shape. In the case of large Mammalia like deer, in the full consideration of the point that deer itself are used in various ways, they were dissected in the order of skinning, taking out the internal organs, cutting front and rear legs, separating joint parts and meats, extracting bone-marrow by 철정, 철부, ironed hand knife in very delicate ways. It seems that skinning, and front and rear legs' cutting were taken place in the place around the residence, on the other hand joint parts' separating and bone-marrow extracting in the residence. The tools for the dissection were confirmed to be hand-knife, honed ax, hammer stone, bondstone, needles and stylus, and some other sharp instrument. They were used properly according to objects.