Kaesong, 1630 : une stèle méritoire en l’honneur du secrétaire général O Tan

Abstract

In May 2015, as the fourth excavation campaign of the French-DPRK Archaeological Mission in Kaesong (Kaesŏng 開城) at the south-western foot of the Great South Gate (Namdaemun 南大門) of the Inner Wall (Naesŏng 內城) of the Ancient City Fortress came to an end, a stele was fortuitously discovered within the stratigraphic unit 12032. Remarkably large, its upper half was engaged in the eastern berm of the pit 12000. As its clearing required a major extension of the pit, a new excavation was planned and then carried out during the 2016 campaign. This stele would prove to be a useful clue for dating the construction process of the Kaesong Great South Gate and a notable element for the knowledge of the history of the capital of Koryŏ 高麗 (918–1392) during the Chosŏn 朝鮮 (1392–1910) period.