Songguk-ri

Excavations began there in 1975[1] and Songguk-ri was one of the first archaeological sites in South Korea to yield bronze artifacts, large tubular greenstone beads, and pit-houses with rounded plan-shapes.

Evidence of an imposing palisade erected around one of the residential precincts at the site has been found, leading archaeologists to hypothesize about conflict and competition in the local Mumun society.

Songguk-ri is one of the well-known sites from Korean prehistory that displays some formative examples of characteristics of Protohistoric chiefdoms such as Mahan, Byeonhan, and early states such as Baekje.

For example, Songguk-ri contains evidence of several long-term trends in Korean prehistory and protohistory such as the existence of social status distinctions[4] and the use of prestige artifacts such as greenstone and metal (e.g. Liaoning-style bronze dagger) in burials.

are referred to when we begin the discussion regarding the origins of social complexity and the formation of states in the Korean peninsula.