"Clues to Understanding Baekje Officials and Civil Engineering Techniques"
Traces of lacquered armor were confirmed in the area around Iksan Fortress in Jeonbuk, where a large number of Baekje-era roof tiles were excavated. On the 30th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that lacquered leather armor fragments were discovered during an excavation conducted in collaboration with Iksan City and the Mahan Baekje Culture Research Institute at Wonkwang University.
The armor was made by joining lacquered leather pieces. Six fragments were identified, each shaped as a rounded square with circular holes. All were excavated from a water collection facility located south of Iksan Fortress. It is presumed that these armor fragments fell off during battle.
The water collection facility was constructed to store water. At Iksan Fortress, it was built on a massive scale, measuring 9.5 meters east to west and 7.8 meters north to south in diameter. Its maximum depth reached 4.5 meters. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "This is a previously undiscovered feature from the 1981 southern fortress wall survey," adding, "It is the first time a water collection facility presumed to have been built during the Baekje period has been confirmed in the region south of Buyeo."
Although part of the water collection facility had collapsed, the lower section remained relatively intact. The floor was artificially carved and smoothed natural bedrock. The northeastern section was shaped to channel water toward the center. On the southern side, a stone platform was built up to a maximum height of 80 cm. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "It is judged to have been constructed during the Baekje period and to have undergone at least one repair."
In addition to the lacquered armor fragments, several roof tile and pottery shards presumed to be from the Baekje period were found at the site. A wooden rod measuring 2.3 cm in diameter, likely used for document classification, was also discovered. It bore the inscription 'Jeongsa (丁巳) Geumjaesik (今在食, meaning currently stored food),' suggesting it was associated with records of food supplies within the fortress during the Jeongsa year. If usage traces are found, it is expected to become an important resource for understanding document storage methods during the Baekje period.
The Cultural Heritage Administration will announce the results of the investigation, including these findings, at the excavation site located at San 52-2, Seogodori, Geumma-myeon, Iksan City, at 2:30 p.m. today. The research team stated, "This will be an important resource for understanding Baekje people's water management techniques using natural terrain and their civil engineering skills."
Iksan Fortress is a mountain fortress surrounding Ogumsan Mountain. Full-scale excavations began in 2017. It previously attracted attention for the large quantity of Baekje roof tiles unearthed, including those bearing the inscription 'Subu (首府),' which refers to tiles used in Baekje palaces.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
