International Trade Port, Neuk-do Island

We have finally reached the section containing artifacts from the Iron Age. Korea was influenced by Chinese iron culture during the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C. From the 2nd century B.C., iron manufacturing technology rapidly spread throughout Korea. As a consequence, during the 1st century A.D, ironware was popularly used even in the south of the Korean Peninsula.

On display here is a collection of artifacts representing the lifestyle of the people of Gaya – a bone dagger, an iron ax, and the backbone of a whale among others. These relics were excavated from a small island off the south coast of Korea called Neukdo Island.

Many relics have been found on Neukdo Island. Surprisingly, some of the excavations conducted there have unearthed Chinese pottery, Chinese coins and Japanese earthenware. The artifact in the middle is an example of Japanese earthenware.

Do you know how Chinese and Japanese relics came to be found on Neukdo Island? Neukdo Island was an international trade port connecting the Korean Peninsula with China and Japan. Gaya exported high quality ironware to other countries via sea routes and simultaneously exchanged both culture and goods with different countries.

However, as navigation developed and the scale of sea trade expanded, the small trade port on Neukdo Island was no longer adequate. Gaya required a bigger port to accommodate larger vessels. As the port in south-eastern Gimhae developed, the era of Geumgwan Gaya began. Gimhae enjoyed an advantageous geographic location, sitting on the banks of the second largest river in the Korean Peninsula. The large port in Gimhae accelerated the development of Geumgwan Gaya.