Institutions: NRICH - Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences

The archaeological excavations in Khabarovsk Krai at the Amur basin and Primorsky Krai, where Okjeo, Goguryeo and Balhae – parts of Korean history - were located, led by a Joint KOR-RUS research team have made important discoveries related to the studies ranging from the Neolithic to the North and South States Period (Balhae) ever since 2000.
The Suchu Island Site at the lower Amur River (2000 – 2002), which have shed light on the exchange relationships of Korean east coast area in the Neolithic; the Bulochka Site in Primorsky Krai (2003 – 2005), which have yielded early Iron Age (Okjeo) dwellings and ondol; and the Balhae and Malgal Sites at the middle course of the Amur (2007 – 2009) have been excavated. Various archaeological materials including 57 dwellings and tombs, and some 60,000 artefacts were discovered during these investigations and three series of research reports were published.

Institutions: NRICH – Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Peoples of Far-East, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Excavations of Balhae Fortifications have launched in 2008, in order to focus on research of Balhae (698 – 926), a great empire that was formed across parts of China, Primorsky Krai and North Korea, which was also called the ‘Flourishing Land in the East’ in 9th century Northeast Asia.

Excavations of the Koksharovka-1 Fortress in Primorsky Krai (2008 – 2014)

The flood plain at the upper Ussuri River in Chuguyevka and Koksharovka River within Primorsky Krai, Russia

• • Seven building sites with “呂”-shaped partial under-floor heating facilities - a tradition inherited from Goguryeo – and walls were discovered, alongside artefacts such as golden and silver accessories, plain roof tiles, iron caldron and especially, a cylindrical pottery stand, which was unprecedented in the Primorsky area.
  • Construction time and techniques of the fortress were excavated and a stone building site for sacrificial rites, which is unique in Primorsky Krai was uncovered.

Excavations of the Sinel’nikovo-1 Mountain Fortress (2015 – 2016)

Vicinity of Shinel’nikovo village in Oktyabrsky District, west to Ussuriysk in Primorsky Krai, Russia

• • Early stages of Balhae’s territorial expansion were ascertained.
  • The 700m long wall was built with the common Balhae fortress construction method with stonework and earth for backfilling.
  • Fragments of Malgal pottery, wheel-made pottery vessel presumed to be of Balhae origin, Balhae earthen cube-shaped object, etc. were unearthed.
  • Radiocarbon dating (C14) test indicated that the fortress was constructed in the late 7th century, which was the early Balhae Period.

Excavations of the Starorechenskoe Fortress (2017 – 2019)

Razdolnaya riverside in the vicinity of Starorechenskoe village, Oktyabrsky District in Primorsky, Russia

• • Panchuk wall, which is mound layering construction technique of stacking different soil in alternation, was excavated. Various Balhae remains and artefacts were discovered such as pit-style stone-lined storage (presumably ice storage), gate and road facility covered with river pebbles, tripod vessel, wheel-made pottery vessel, finger-tip impressed convex roof tile, bronze earpick, and animal and fish bones.
  • This site is recognized as the most ideal archaeological site for the research of Late Balhae’s life

Institutions:

National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea – Institute of Archaeology of A. Kh. Margulan and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Location: Southeastern Zhetysu, Almaty (2015 – 2018)

• 1. Geophysical prospection and aerial photogrammetry
  • 1.1. Over 50 burial/ritual structures of different periods confirmed.
  • 1.2. Rectangular and circular Kurgan burials(Dimensions: d: 10 - 60m, h: 1 – 4m.) are aligned in the north-south direction (in four groups).
• 2. Major discoveries of the excavations (of total of Five Kurgan burials investigated)
  • 2.1. Multiple main burials are located beneath Saka Period mounds (5th to 3rd century B.C.; collective burial can imply simultaneous deaths by war or disease, or burial in sacrifice).
  • 2.2. Funerary rituals from the time of the burial were confirmed (burial goods, animal bones, burnt wooden outer coffin covers, etc
• 3. Interdisciplinary research about the findings
  • 3.1. Radiocarbon dating (¹⁴C)

    -Two identical charcoal samples sent to two analysis agencies ascertained the Saka Period (5th to 2nd century B.C.).

  • 3.2. Analysis of human skeletal remains

    - Physical anthropological analysis: heights of the buried male: 170 – 180㎝, female: 170㎝.
    - Restoration of facial muscles on the skulls: European Caucasoids
    - Stable isotope analysis of collagen extracted from the bones (inquiry of source of nutrient): : diet consisting primarily of meat and dairy, with small amounts of wheat, oat, millet, corn, etc..

  • 3.3. Analysis of faunal remains (determination of physical traces such as weathering, plant roots, tools, heating, etc.)

    - Funerary rituals with “sacrifice complex” including domesticated horses, dogs, sheep and cows.
    - Sheep and horses were sacrificed for the dead as “funerary food”.

  • 3.4. Natural scientific analysis of the pottery objects

    - Each nomadic group used materials from separate clay sources.
    - Burnt bones, wet compost, organic solution and more were added to the clay.
    - Calcined with oxidation (open-air, 700°C or less).

• 4. Production and application of digital contents
  • - UAV aerial photography, generation of 360° panoramic images and service (http://vrNational Research Institute of Cultural Heritage.kr).

Institutions:

National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of the CHA, Republic of Korea – Institute of History and Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences

Location: Tsengel, Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia

• 1. Major discoveries of the excavations of the Pazyryk burials (4th to 2nd century B.C.)
  • 1.1. The eastern boundary of the Pazyryk Culture was determined. (2500m above sea level)
  • 1.2. The stone mounds measure about 9 – 15m in diameters; vertical and horizontal partitions were confirmed at some of the mounds (Tombs Nos. 3, 8)
  • 1.3. Various materials were confirmed to have been applied for the main burials formed around the same time; wooden coffin + wooden outer coffin, log coffin, stone coffin, and the likes.
  • 1.4. One set of horse skeletal remains were discovered from the stone coffin of Tomb No. 6, one set of human and three sets of horse skeletal remains were unearthed from the wooden coffin, and large bronze nails were lodged in the wooden outer coffin of Tomb No. 3 (new type of discovery in terms of burial rites in Mongolian Altai)
  • 1.5. Evidence of death (hole) caused by war (tool/weapon) on the crown of the skull of the buried of Tomb No. 9 was verified.
  • 1.6. Wooden accessories and pottery items with inexperienced patterns, shapes and gold leaves, bronze nails and horses buried in sacrifice display dissimilar aspects to other Pazyryk burials of Mongolian Altai.
  • 1.7. The head directions of the buried all face northeast, which is specific to this region (presumed to be regional aristocrats or commoners)

• 2. Major discoveries of the excavations of the Xianbei burials (1st to 3rd century)
  • 2.1. Extensive research materials such as clothing styles and burial methods (head directions are northwest or northeast but facing north) of the Xianbei nomads of the Altai were secured.
  • 2.3. Diverse constructions methods such as installation of low stone mounds and double burial surrounding stones.
  • 2.4. Silk, cloth, fabric and silver accessories attached to the fabric were unearthed alongside a mummified corpse.
  • 2.5. Only a small beads necklace was exhumed in terms of artefacts. Three cowry shells found from Tomb No. 3 (inhabiting the warm current of Southeast Asia – South coast of Korea – Japan’s Kuroshio) particularly proves the active exchanges between various groups of nomads.