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Network Analysis of Foreign Object Circulation in Ancient Korea: Wushu Coins from Yeongnam Burials

Ilhong Ko 1

1서울대학교 아시아연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Ancient Chinese wushu coins recovered from burials of the Yeongnam region were regarded foremost as a kind of ‘foreign object’ in an attempt to arrive at a new interpretation of this artifact type. Network analysis, which allows for new ways of identifying and visualizing patterns of archaeological data, was undertaken on a data set consisting of all foreign objects from Yeongnam region burials. The results of the analysis revealed that wushu coins were present at sites of high centrality (Daho-ri, Yongjeon-ri), middle centrality (Yangji-ri), and low centrality (Imdang). It was suggested that the wushu coins had been circulated from sites of high centrality to sites of low centrality, and that in this process, these foreign objects gained different meanings and undertook different functions. In addition, the relationship between currency and the market economy was explored and various cases of Roman coins discovered in the ‘barbaric world’ were examined to support such an interpretation. The present study not only proposes a new interpretation of ancient Chinese coins excavated on the Korean Peninsula, but also illustrates the usefulness of network analysis on archaeological data sets.

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* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.
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