Differences in Crop Cultivation in the Central-west Region during the Neolithic period

This study analyzed various archaeological evidence, including crop evidence and stone tools, with the purpose of determining whether there were differences in the presence or proportion of crop cultivation among settlements in the midwestern region during the Neolithic Age. Firstly, crop impressions were not identified in sites where crop remains were not excavated, so it was assumed that crops were not cultivated in these sites or that the proportion of crop cultivation was quite low. Second, as a result of analyzing and comparing the stone tool composition between sites, it was found that the proportion of plant food processing tools was high in the sites where crop remains were excavated, and the proportion of hunting and fishing tools was high in the sites where crop remains were not excavated. Therefore, it was estimated that the subsistence pattern affected the discovery of crop remains. Thirdly, among the sites where crop evidence was found, it was confirmed that the proportion of food processing tools was higher in sties with a higher ratio of crop evidence. This was presumed to indicate that even when crop cultivation took place, the proportion varied depending on the site. In summary, it is believed that the adoption and proportion of crop cultivation differed between settlements in the midwestern region during the Neolithic Age. Considering this aspect, it is possible that early crop cultivation in the midwestern region of the Korean Peninsula exhibited diverse and complex patterns. Furthermore, upon examining the surrounding environmental conditions of the sites where crop remains were excavated, it was determined that crop cultivation was adopted under conditions where coastal resources and alluvial lands were available, enabling efficient farming and stable food resource acquisition. In other words, it was estimated that mixed grain cultivation was predominantly practiced under conditions that could mitigate the challenges associated with crop cultivation.