By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Three white porcelain jars, estimated to be from 15th and 16th century, were unearthed in the middle of the famous ``Pimatgol'' alley in Jongno, downtown Seoul, Friday.
The Hanul Research Institute of Cultural Heritage said the white porcelain pieces were found intact while an excavation was being done on an area in the neighborhood that was presumed to be the site of a 19th century building.
These porcelain jars were estimated to have been made between the end of the 15th century and beginning of 16th century of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).
The three porcelain jars have different sizes. The tallest has a height of 36.5cm, is 16.9cm in diameter at the rim with a base diameter of 16cm. Another jar measured 35.5cm in height with a rim of 16cm and a base of 15.2cm. The smallest jar measured 28cm, a 14cm diameter rim and a base diameter of 13.3cm.
Pimatgol, which literally means ``avoiding horses alley,'' was an alley for commoners during the Joseon Kingdom. Commoners built the back alley, in order to bypass the main road used by the upper class along Jongno. It originally stretched from Jongno 1-ga to Jongno 6-ga, but is now considered the back alley from Kyobo Bookstore to SC First Bank headquarters, downtown Seoul.