한국 수중고고학 현황 연구

Abstract

Underwater archaeology is archaeology practised underwater. It is studying the underwater cultural heritage, with past of human life and behaviors, found in salt or fresh water or buried water-logged sediment. Underwater cultural heritage includes submerged sites and structures, wreck-sites and wreckage and their archaeological and natural context, additionally the places where people once lived on land that have been subsequently covered by water due to rising sea levels or other phenomena. Time line of the archaeological studying in underwater should be reviewed, even though not too long history because of the limitations and difficulties due to the natural environment and conception of the human beings. The history of underwater archaeology is inextricably associated with the development of underwater technology and related field i.e. remote sensing techniques, for it is through the diving techniques and equipments and marine‧salvage operations that archaeology underwater is made possible. In Korea, interests of the underwater artifacts and features, furthermore the cultural heritages were being raised early of 1970s. Over ten(10) shipwrecks and numerous artifacts underwater has being excavated thereafter. Accordingly, the term of "Underwater Archaeology" had been used. Recent excavations for the shipwrecks of Goryeo Dynasty make us to learn more about the naval architecture and many aspects of the Goryeo society including the sea route and the traffic with the trade. Underwater archaeological excavations and finds in Korea are reviewed and summarized following the time line and importance, in a moment, we should consider the present status for the another leap-forward. Among them, remarkable cases are compared with the similar or referable foreign cases in view of the techniques and conceptions. Systematic and cooperative researches had not been conducted satisfactorily in Korea. Underwater excavations have being carried out by the related government authorities exclusively and the laws, rules and disciplines are not well established. Therefore, the results of academic researches are not rich, furthermore, the class and the major are not available in the universities. Sometimes techniques of the search(exploration, survey) and excavation had not been applied properly on the job-site, especially diving operation. Safety and efficiency should be a major concern in diving underwater. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage has an underwater excavation vessel "Nurian", 290 GT, 36.4m length, equipped with the offshore standard air diving facility and related survey equipments this year. The institute is the only national museum dedicated to the maritime history, guides visitors to the wisdom and achievements of Korean people in the past with collections arranged by the themes of the sea, people, culture, exchange and history. Would like to suggest that the deficiencies as described above shall be overcome, considering the present circumstance and conception of the people along with the natural environment in Korea. Establishment of the database for the previous works and studies, improvement of techniques for the exploration and excavation could be required for the development of the underwater archaeology in Korea.