Manwoldae Palace Excavations: Koryo-Era Metal Type Unearthed In Kaesong, N.Korea

MessageToEagle.com – A piece of Koryo-era metal type predating what is believed to be the world’s oldest book printed with movable metal type in 1377, has been unearthed in the North Korean border town of Kaesong.

The piece was excavated from Manwoldae Palace dated from the Koryo Dynasty in Kaesong, during a joint-Korean project, said Choi Kwang-sik of Korea University who leads the project.

The palace ruins at Manwoldae from the Koruo Dynasty (918-1392) have been unearthed in 2008. Joint excavations at Manwoldae took place four times between 2007 and 2010. Archaeologists and historians from both Koreas also restarted joint excavations in July 2014 and this year they worked from June 1 to November 30, 2015.

The Manwoldae was built by King Taejo, the founder of the Koryo Kingdom, at the foot of Mt. Songak in Kaesong in 919. It was burned down during a Red Turban invasion in the last years of the kingdom.

“We need to conduct follow-up research of the metal type including when it was made, what kind of font was used, and what it was made from,” Choi said.

During excavations 19 sites of buildings were uncovered and about 3,500 items, including inscribed roof tiles, pieces of celadon (pottery made with celadon glaze), and dragon finials, were unearthed during the excavation that started in June, the project team told reporters.

“We discussed with North Korean historians a way to carry out a radiocarbon dating and other investigations because there are still traces of ink on the metal type.”

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The Chosun Ilbo