Balhae Fortress Excavation

By Kim Eun-kuk

The Northeast Asian History Foundation of South Korea conducted the excavation of a fortress of Balhae, an ancient Korean kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo, from June 29 to July 20. The excavation was made jointly with the Russian Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology of Peoples of the Far East.

Now, archeologists of the two organizations are in the process of analyzing relics unearthed from the site in Kraskino, Russia's southern Maritime Province. The site is close to the Tumen River, which flows along the borderline between Russia and North Korea. A large number of Koreans settled in the province, including Kraskino, in the late 19th century. The fortress was named after the town, located along the province's southern coast.

The town was part of Yeom Ju, one of 62 major administrative regions of the Balhae Kingdom (698-926). It was a gateway to the ``Silla Road'' and the ``Japan Road,'' trade routes linking to the ancient Silla Kingdom and Japan. The 1.2-kilometer-long fortress wall is located where the Tsukanovak River and Posyet Bay meet.

One can go to the Kraskino Fortress to discover what Balhae was like more than a millennium ago. The historical site is drawing keen attention not only from South Korea and Russia but also from North Korea, Japan and China. Japanese archeologists have also excavated the fortress, especially the eastern gate area, focusing on investigating traces of exchanges between Balhae and the island country.

North Korea is trying to link the discovery of the fortress to its efforts to excavate Balhae relics within its territory as the North and the Russian province share the history of the Korean kingdom along the Tumen River. China is also seeking to share information about the fortress with Russian historians in an attempt to expand its interpretation of the Balhae relics in its favor.

Therefore, it can be said that the Kraskino Fortress is an international treasure for the study of the Balhae Kingdom whose history is reorganized in Northeast Asia today.

The South Korean-Russian joint team has recently stepped up their excavation of the fortress, unearthing various remains and relics. Among the noticeable findings are square installations piled with broken roof tiles and the ``ondol" heating system which was discovered in 2005.

Carbon dating analyses showed that the relics dated back to 840 A.D. when Balhae was ruled by its 11th king. So the relics and the site attested to the history of the kingdom, serving as a time capsule that can allow us to put together what was once described as the ``flourishing land of the East,'' despite the absence of its own historic documents.

This year's excavation is meaningful as the archeologists adopted a new method that enabled them to discover early culture of Balhae. They've tried to unearth the deeper layers of the installations. As a result, they found relics, including an earthenware steamer, which are similar to those of the Goguryeo period. Carbon dating of relics proved the existence of the early culture of Balhae.

The analyses conducted in 2007 and 2008 showed that the excavated relics dated back to the mid-seventh and eighth centuries. This year's excavation also confirmed the period. The archeologists first discovered old roads in the areas spanning from the fortress's northwestern part to its southern gate.

The excavation was focused on the survey of the main road of the fortress and the relics around the citadel. Collaboration between the Russian institute and the Korean foundation has made it possible to make a scientific search for the relics. Such collaboration marked a milestone in the joint excavation between the two countries.

The outcome of the excavation will serve as an opportunity to change the established recognition about the Kraskino Fortress. It is also expected to provide evidential data for the study of Balhae history.

South Korea and Russia have taken a different approach from China's self-centered interpretation of Balhae history. The two countries have jointly carried out excavations in the Maritime Province, published reports and held symposiums. The Kraskino Fortress is one of many unearthed historic sites in the Russian Far East that can vividly tell us about the lifestyle of the Balhae people.

The Northeast Asian History Foundation has published annual reports on excavations in the Russian province in order to utilize them as a means to promote the research of Balhae history and broaden the understanding of the kingdom. Through the joint excavations and other academic activities, historians of both South Korea and Russia have tried to have a better understanding of Balhae history. They also have played an important role of enhancing its significance in the global community.

In this regard, the joint excavation and research at the Kraskino Fortress has set a good example of shared recognition of Northeast Asian history.

Kim Eun-kuk is a research fellow at the Northeast Asian History Foundation in Seoul. He specializes in ancient Korean history. He is currently participating in the excavation of Balhae relics and working on the history of the ancient kingdom. He can be reached at enkuk@historyfoundation.or.kr.