Mayor Kim Byungsu: "Sinan-ri Prehistoric Site Will Become a Key Asset for Gimpo's Urban Competitiveness"

Gimpo Sinan-ri Site Reveals 53 Neolithic Dwellings and Artifacts
Experts Emphasize Need for National Heritage Designation and Systematic Management

The largest existing Neolithic archaeological site in South Korea was opened to the public on June 26, drawing significant attention from both academia and the media. Gimpo City held a field event for the '5th Excavation of Gimpo Sinan-ri Site' in Sinan-ri, Daegot-myeon, attended by archaeological experts, citizens, and the press, providing an opportunity to directly observe Neolithic dwellings and artifacts.

Kim Byungsu, mayor of Gimpo City, attended the '5th Excavation of Gimpo Sinan-ri Site' field event held on the 26th in Sinan-ri, Daegot-myeon, and received explanations from officials. Provided by Gimpo City

The experts present at the event unanimously emphasized the need for a serious discussion regarding the value and future of the Neolithic site. The city announced that it will host an academic conference on June 27, the day after the site visit, to further examine the significance of the site.

At the field event, prepared by Gimpo City and the Gyeonggang Cultural Heritage Research Institute, experts showed keen interest in the scope and significance of the site. Citizens, who usually have limited access to such excavations, toured the site, observed Neolithic dwellings and artifacts firsthand, and gained a deeper understanding of Neolithic culture through expert commentary.

The city aims to use this field event and academic conference as an opportunity to share the historical value of the site with citizens and to gather opinions from experts in various fields in order to develop more specialized and systematic management plans. In particular, as the need for designation as a national heritage site is being discussed, Gimpo City expressed its commitment to actively engage in discussions regarding the management of the Neolithic site.

Mayor Kim Byungsu stated, "It is highly significant that such a large-scale prehistoric settlement has been identified in Gimpo. The Gimpo Sinan-ri Site is expected to become a representative prehistoric site in South Korea. I hope that public interest in the site will increase further through today's field event and tomorrow's academic conference, and I will actively seek ways to manage this largest cultural heritage site in the country more systematically."

He added, "Gimpo was a central location that led the Neolithic culture, which can be considered the first major innovation of humankind on the Korean Peninsula. The Gimpo Sinan-ri Site will become another core asset that strengthens the city's brand."

The 'Gimpo Sinan-ri Site' is being excavated as part of an academic investigation authorized by the National Heritage Administration for the purpose of maintenance and restoration. Through the first to fifth excavations, a total of 53 Neolithic pit dwellings have been identified, along with major artifacts representative of the Neolithic era, such as comb-pattern pottery, grinding stones, and grinding slabs. The site is recognized for its archaeological value and is noted as the largest existing Neolithic residential site in the country.

During the 5th excavation (covering an area of 1,200 square meters), an additional 11 Neolithic pit dwellings and 5 pit features from the Joseon Dynasty were identified. Inside the rectangular dwellings, stone-lined and pit-type hearths were installed, and typical Neolithic residential structures such as four-post main holes and entrance facilities were revealed. Artifacts unearthed include comb-pattern pottery engraved with single-slant lines, impressed designs, vertical fishbone patterns, and horizontal fishbone patterns, as well as stone tools such as grinding stones, grinding slabs, and stone knives.

Since the launch of the 8th popularly elected municipal administration, the excavation of the Neolithic site has been accompanied by budget allocations, allowing the work to proceed at a faster pace. The city plans to continue leading efforts to solidify the national significance of Gimpo's assets through further field events and academic conferences in the future.

Meanwhile, following this field event, the city will hold an academic conference on June 27 to discuss the value and future of the Neolithic site. It is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of the site, from the field itself to its broader significance.