The Emergence and Character of chafing-dish-shaped earthenware in the Wooden chamber Tomb of Yeongnam Region

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discuss the emergence and character of chafingdish- shaped earthenware found in the wooden chamber tomb of Yeongnam Region from the Early Age of Three Empires. As a result, it shows that the chafing-dish-shaped earthenware from wooden chamber tomb in Young-nam area in Proto Three Kingdoms Age was found mainly in Ulsan and Gyeongju region, based on the current data only, and developed in Gyeongju district zone. Existing study divides chronology of the chafing-dish-shaped earthenware into 4 phases. The 1st phase is in the early 3rd century A.D., the 2nd phase in the mid 3rd century A.D., the 3rd phase in the late 3rd century A.D. and the 4th phase in the early 4th century A.D.. Hence, the chafing-dish-shaped earthenware started to appear in the early 3rd century A.D. and continued to last until the early 4th century A.D. Considering the accompanied relics and the scale of wooden chamber tomb, chafingdish- shaped earthenware seems to reflect the authority of people. In other words, it is possible that even the same earthenware can take different forms for the commoners and the ruling class. However, the accompanied relics and the scale of wooden chamber tomb degraded from the early 4th Century B.C. and chafing-dish-shaped earthenware weakened its representation of authority. Also, chafing-dish-shaped earthenware was newly developed along with other ceremonial earthenware. Considering the accompanied steel artifacts, they are rather unpractical to prove that they were related to ceremonies. In sum, chafing-dish-shaped earthenware seems to reflect the character of authority and ceremonies.