Prehistoric Korea

Prehistoric Korea is the period of human existence in the Korean Peninsula for which written records do not exist. It nonetheless constitutes the greatest segment of the Korean past and is the major object of study in the disciplines of archaeology, geology, and paleontology.

Paleolithic Age

The Paleolithic Age in Korean prehistory roughly spans from 500,000 BC to 10,000 BC. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began after 6000 BC, followed by the Bronze Age by 2000 BC, and the Iron Age around 700 BC.

Neolithic Age

The Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age, was marked by the cultivation of crops and the refinement of tools and weapons. Pottery, which had been first created during the Paleolithic Age, was further developed during the Neolithic Age.

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age in Korea began around 2000 BC in the southwestern regions of the peninsula. Bronze Age cultures in Korea continued into the 1st millennium BC, and are typified by the production of ceremonial bronze daggers, mirrors, and belt buckles.

Iron Age

The Iron Age in Korea is traditionally considered to have begun in the 1st millennium BC. This period is typified by the widespread production of iron tools and weapons, and the creation of complex chiefdoms and states.

See also

• History of Korea
• Three Kingdoms of Korea
• Goguryeo
• Baekje
• Silla