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Construction Techniques and Characteristics of Gangmundong Earthen Fortress in Gangneung

Sim, Jeong-Bo 1

1한밭대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Gangmundong Earthen Fortress is located on the Jukdo peak and the address of the area is 265, Gangmun-dong, Gangneung City, Gangwon Province. Before the fortress was found, Hyundai Hotel Gyeongpodae was constructed and run. As the hotel was considering its extension before the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, an archaeological study was carried out, thus leading to the discovery of the fortress. The earthen fortress meets the East Sea in its east and the Gyeongpo lake in its north and west. In its south, the Gyeongpo creek flows from the Gyeongpo lake to the East Sea. From the top of the Jukdo peak to the bottom of the slope, the semi or real rammed earth technique was used for the construction of the fortress body and land formation. As for the western end of its south wall, a wall stiffener was installed in the outer wall of the fortress body in order to increase the size of the earthwork or to form the gate site, a technique that is similar to Iseongsanseong Fortress in Jeungpyeong. In another part of Gangmundong Earthen Fortress, the fortress body was constructed by adding materials to the inner and outer walls of the main earthwork, as in the case of Pungnap Earthen Fortress, thus meaning an affinity with Baekje. The fact that further demonstrates such an affinity is the discovery of five large flask-shaped storage sites in the earthen fortress; such storage characterizes Baekje’s fortresses. This earthen fortress would have been reconstructed extensively between 505 when General Yi Sa-bu was appointed as the governor of Siljik Province and 512 when Yi founded Haseula Province to serve as its governor. During this period, combat ship building and military training would have taken place at the same time. This explains how Yi was able to conquer the State of Usan soon after he became the governor of Haseula Province in 512. According to the historical document Samguksagi Akji, A poem by Choi Chi-won called “round lump of gold” says that “pure gold calms the sea.” This poem leads us to infer what the people of Silla believed. In the same vein, the gold ring that were excavated in Gangmundong Earthen Fortress would have been buried there when combat ships went into battle, in an attempt to calm the sea. Ritual objects such as gidaes and gobaes that were discovered with the gold ring in the earthen fortress also serve as precious archaeological evidence because they further strengthens the argument that Yi would have held a rite in thie fortress before the battle, wishing for conquering the State of Usan.

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