Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries

Some unique relics are displayed here. Take a look at the shiny black stones. They are obsidian, a type of stone generally found in regions where there is volcanic activity. As obsidian is a product of lava flow, the mineral composition of the stone varies from region to region. Most of the obsidian found in Korea originates from the volcanic areas in the northern part of the peninsula and Japan.

They relics lying above them are examples of Japanese-style Neolithic pottery that were excavated from shell mounds on the south coast of Korea. The shell bracelets, fishhooks and teeth of red deer are Korean in style but were also common in Japan. From these objects, we know that cultural exchange took place between Korea and Japan during the prehistoric period. Travel between the two countries occurred by sea, and there is a prehistoric rock painting in the southern region of Korea, depicting Neolithic people at sea on a boat, whaling. It is surprising to think that people traveled so far by boat in those days.