An Exploratory Study on the Technological Style and Production Systems of Bronze Age Pottery: Focusing on a Geochemical Analysis of Pottery from the Gwanchang-ri and Songguk-ri Sites

This paper presents a geochemical analysis (pXRF) of plain(Mumun) pottery and red-burnished pottery to compare production systems within and outside Bronze Age core settlements, based on the technological styles of the pottery. First, to examine the potential existence of a distribution and exchange network mediated by pottery, the chemical compositions of Mumun and red-burnished pottery from the Gwanchang-ri site in Boryeong (a core settlement on the Chungcheong west coast) were compared with those from surrounding settlements at Jinjuk-ri and Jugyo-ri sites. The analysis confirmed differences in pottery production traditions and technological styles among the three sites. However, it also suggested the possible coexistence of a technological style network that shared production traditions, specifically for the specialized vessel type of red- burnished pottery. Next, at the Songguk-ri site in Buyeo, Mumun pottery and red-burnished pottery were compared to investigate the possibility that different pottery production systems coexisted between rectangular- and circular-plan dwellings. The results revealed a significant difference in the chemical composition of red burnished pottery excavated from the different dwelling types. Accordingly, among the various hypotheses proposed regarding the dwelling plan shapes at the Songguk-ri site, those that best align with these compositional results were reviewed. Although this study has certain limitations in statistical analysis and interpretation due to its restricted scope, it suggests that the two central settlements of Songguk-ri and Gwanchang-ri may have played a key role in the standardized pottery production systems within their respective regions. Future research should expand the number of sites analyzed and conduct more precise examinations to further deepen the understanding of the Bronze Age socioeconomic structure.