Population and social aggregation in the Neolithic Chulmun villages of Korea

Kim, Minkoo; Shin, Heung-Nam; Kim, Shinhye; Lim, Dong-jung; Jo, Kyuhee; Ara, Ryu; Won, Haesun; Oh, Semi; Noh, Hyengsin

doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2015.08.002

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The current study shows that there was a climatic change to a cooler and drier condition prior to this transition. Throughout the Korean Peninsula, the population density around 4000 cal yr BP decreased, or people relocated to coasts and islands (Kim et al, 2015). The exploitation of maritime and littoral resources, which were less vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations, intensified (Norton, 2000, 2007).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mid- to late Holocene cooling events in the Korean Peninsula and their possible impact on ancient societies

2019

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We present a multiproxy record using pollen, magnetic susceptibility, carbon isotopic composition, carbon/nitrogen ratio, and particle size of mid- to late Holocene environmental changes based on a sediment core from the Pomaeho lagoon on the east coast of Korea. The records indicate that climate deteriorations around 6400 cal yr BP and 4000 cal yr BP caused rapid vegetation changes in the study area, which were presumably attributable to low sunspot activity and strong El Niño–like conditions, respectively. These two cooling events were likely modulated by different climate mechanisms, as El Niño–Southern Oscillation activity began to strengthen around 5000 cal yr BP. These events may have had a substantial impact on ancient societies in the study area. Combining our results with archaeological findings indicated that climate deterioration led to drastic declines in local populations around 6400 cal yr BP, 4400 cal yr BP, and 4000 cal yr BP. Because of its high population, coastal East Asia (e.g., eastern China, Japan, and Korea) is particularly vulnerable to potential cooling events in the future. Therefore, there is a strong need for detailed paleoclimate information in this region.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mid- to late Holocene cooling events in the Korean Peninsula and their possible impact on ancient societies

2019

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“…2003, 2010; Lee Y. 2011; Kim M. et al 2015). Stable isotopes analyses carried out on several human skeletal remains further suggest reliance on wild-food resources, particularly marine animals and wild C3 plant foods such as acorns, various nuts, herbaceous plants, and fruits (Choy and Richards 2010; Lee J.-J.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Population Fluctuation and the Adoption of Food Production in Prehistoric Korea: Using Radiocarbon Dates as a Proxy for Population Change

Conte

Kang

et al. 2017

Radiocarbon

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Population growth has been evoked both as a causal factor and consequence of the transition to agriculture. The use of radiocarbon (14C) dates as proxies for population allows for reevaluations of population as a variable in the transition to agriculture. In Korea, numerous rescue excavations during recent decades have offered a wealth of 14C data for this application. A summed probability distribution (SPD) of 14C dates is investigated to reconstruct population trends preceding and following adoptions of food production in prehistoric Korea. Important cultivars were introduced to Korea in two episodes: millets during the Chulmun Period (ca. 6000–1500 BCE) and rice during the Mumun Period (ca. 1500–300 BCE). The SPD suggests that while millet production had little impact on Chulmun populations, a prominent surge in population appears to have followed the introduction of rice. The case in prehistoric Korea demonstrates that the adoption of food production does not lead inevitably towards sustained population growth. Furthermore, the data suggest that the transition towards intensive agriculture need not occur under conditions of population pressure resulting from population growth. Rather, intensive rice farming in prehistoric Korea began during a period of population stagnation.

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“…Some large shell middens on the southeastern coast, e.g. Tongsam-dong, have associated pithouses, but never more than three (Kim et al 2015). Large-scale gatherings, if they occurred, would have been temporary.…”

Section: Discussion: Emergent Elites and Fissioningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research has shown that Chulmun settlements were not evenly distributed across the peninsula, and that their number underwent considerable temporal changes. Settlements have mostly been found in the peninsula's southeastern and central-western regions as well as along the eastern coastline (Choe & Bale 2002; M. Kim et al 2015). The number of settlements reached its peak c. 3500 bce and began to decline c. 2500 bce ; ultimately, only a small number of settlements with only three or fewer pithouses have been found from the period 2500–1500 bce (Ahn et al 2015; M. Kim et al 2015; Oh et al 2017).…”

Section: The Chulmun Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

Aggregation, status competition and levelling mechanisms in prehistoric Chulmun, Korea

Kim¹

2021

CAJ

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This article discusses the aggregation and dispersion of the Chulmun hunter-gatherers (c. 8000–1500 bce) in prehistoric Korea. The following observations are made from settlement datasets. First, large numbers of houses do not necessarily imply aggregation, as they can be palimpsests of dwelling structures from different phases. Second, aggregation settlements were segmented and contained multiple discrete subunits. Individual residential clusters typically had fewer than 60 inhabitants. Third, there are some indications of social hierarchy in nucleated settlements such as Unseo-dong. Fourth, despite some evidence of emergent elites and social differentiation, social complexity did not intensify over the long run. Levelling mechanisms (e.g. group fission) were in operation and they suppressed the institutionalization of social hierarchy.

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Population and social aggregation in the Neolithic Chulmun villages of Korea

Cited by 10 publications

References 17 publications

Mid- to late Holocene cooling events in the Korean Peninsula and their possible impact on ancient societies

Mid- to late Holocene cooling events in the Korean Peninsula and their possible impact on ancient societies

Population Fluctuation and the Adoption of Food Production in Prehistoric Korea: Using Radiocarbon Dates as a Proxy for Population Change

Aggregation, status competition and levelling mechanisms in prehistoric Chulmun, Korea

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