The Ethnic Composition of Bohai State on the Archaeological Materials ()
Abstract
Setting the Problem: Pohai State (698-926), being situated on the territory
of the Russian Primorye, North East of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
and North East of China, was created by Tungus-Manchus tribes Sumo Mokhe. Pohai
was a poly-ethnic (multinational) state. Tribes Mokhe were the basic population
of it. Besides, there lived Koguryo, Paleo-Asian and Chinese residents. Each ethnic
community had its own social status that could be determined by archaeological material.
For deciding such a task the author worked out methods for determining the structure
of archaeological culture. In the Russian archaeology the term “archaeological culture”
means a complex of archaeological sites situated on one and the same territory and
possessed common indications of material culture (ceramics, artifacts out of metal,
necropolis, dwellings, etc.). Structure of Mediaeval Archaeological
Cultures: The author proposes to
single out three layers in material culture: aboriginal layer contains
the information about ethnic belonging; state layer characterizes handcraft production
and gives a possibility to determine the state borders; epoch layer gives a possibility
to date sites and single out military-trade-economic ties. The aboriginal layer is represented with
artifacts being made by residents themselves. They are molded ceramics, traditional
decorations, the specificity of dwelling construction, funeral rites, etc. The state
layer is represented with handicraft artifacts, mainly, made by alien masters
and with technology different from the aboriginal one. For example, ceramics being
produced on the potter’s wheel; types of fortifications that were built by special
(foreign) masters invited for it, and etc. The epochal-making layer is represented with artifacts
that were spread on the very vast territory, for example, girdles (belts) of Turk
type, ceramics of Tan dynasty, armament, etc. Three Tasks of the Investigation: According to such methodic principles there were set three
tasks: on the archaeological material to single out the ethnic (aboriginal) structure
of Pohai state; to determine state signs; to define social status Koguryo residents
in Pohai. Analysis of the Material: Ceramics. The
analysis of molded ceramics exposes that on Pohai sites there was present only Mokhe
type of the vessels. There is no molded Koguryo ceramics there. The analysis of
ceramics, being finished off on potter’s wheel, exposes handicraft traditions and
the presence of kilns, i.e. potter’s wheel ceramics of Koguryo type were produced there. The analysis
of potter’s grey-clay ceramics exposes handicraft traditions of Tan dynasty but
the absence of centers of its production. It is indicative of trade relations. Fortifications: The appearance of stone mountain sites in Pohai is connected
with fortification traditions. The appearance of valley (plain) square sites is
connected with Chinese fortification traditions. Conclusions: So, the basic
(aboriginal) population of Pohai was Tungus-Manchus tribes Mokhe. Koguryo residents in
Pohai were used as potters—handicrafts men and fortification masters and, may be,
warriors. The geography of stone fortresses shows up that they were constructed
for defending marine and land roads.
Share and Cite:
Dyakova, O. (2014) The Ethnic Composition of Bohai State on the Archaeological Materials.
Archaeological Discovery,
2, 6-12. doi:
10.4236/ad.2014.21002.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
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[1]
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Un, K. G. (2005). Research of Particulariries of Koguryo Mountain Towns (pp. 138-152). Separately printed copy. Similar characterization of Koguryo towns was offered by Prof. Nam Il Ren, University Kim Il Sung, at Second International Conference on Korean Studies.
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