When did people first become aware of the numerous prehistoric sites and artifacts found throughout the Korean Peninsula?

The ‘thunder-axe’ is a term that was used during the Joseon Dynasty for stone axes that were supposedly found where lightning had struck the ground. Believed to have been used by the god of thunder and lightning, these heavenly objects were presented to the Joseon king as offerings from the people, since they were seen to have great power in warding off evil spirits, and were regarded as a cure-all.

In the mid-twentieth century, stone axes began to be studied by archaeologists, who were able to establish when and how they were made, how they were used, and how their forms developed over time.

This exhibition illustrates how perceptions of the stone axe, an everyday prehistoric tool, changed over time. It will allow the general public to examine the trajectory by which our present-day perceptions came to be formed, thereby providing a link between the past and present-day communities of the Korean Peninsula.

Part 1 Thunder-axes, Offerings for the King

The God of Thunder, overseer of the meteorological phenomena of rain and wind, thunder and lightning, first began to be depicted with a thunder-axe in 8th century China, during the Tang Dynasty.
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty features seven accounts of such ‘thunder-axes’ spread out over a period of approximately 180 years, with the earliest record dating to the 23th year of the reign of King Sejong the Great (1441), and the latest record dating to the 14th year of the reign of  King Gwanghaegun (1622).
Thunder-axes, as heavenly objects, were believed to have mysterious healing powers and were therefore presented to the Joseon king as offerings from the people. Regarded as a cure-all by the general populace, thunder-axes were ground up and fed to pregnant women. They were also worn by children due to their believed efficacy in warding off evil spirits.
With the establishment of a Neo-Confucian social order in the early 16th century, thunder-axes came to be regarded as ‘natural’ objects formed by the circulation of qi (氣).
Accounts of the thunder-axe gradually disappeared from The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty from the 17th century.

Part 2 From Thunder-axes to Stone Axes – Changing Perceptions of the Stone Axe

Archaeology, as a modern western discipline, was introduced into Korea in the 20th century. This led to a new understanding of the thunder-axe. They were no longer perceived as natural objects or objects resulting from the harmony of the heaven and earth, but came to be regarded as objects made by humans. Collections of Paleolithic chipped stone tools, such as choppers and flakes, and Neolithic grounds stone tools, such as stone axes, chisels, and grooved adzes, were also established around this time.
The majority of the stone axes in the National Museum of Korea’s collection were obtained through archaeological investigation. The collection also features pieces that came from the Yi Royal-Family Museum collection, as well as stray finds and purchased or donated pieces. The ground stone tools of the Yi Royal-Family collection, comprising stone daggers, chisels, and grooved adzes, are of particular interest, since they provide a material link to the accounts of the thunder-axes that appear in The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. The number of stone axes discovered as stray finds by members of the public increased markedly in the 1970s. This indicates that the general public, influenced by the research community, had also begun to regard stone axes as tools made by humans.

Part 3 The Stone Axe, an Essential Tool in Prehistoric Times

Following the discovery of Korean Paleolithic sites in the 1960s, such as Gulpo-ri in Unggi and Seokjang-ri in Gongju, various stone axes have been excavated from dwellings, burials, and shell middens throughout the country. The accumulated results of research on the subsequently established collections of stone axes have made it possible to obtain a wide range of information on the technology and tools of the prehistoric period.
Paleolithic stone axes are simple in form and were used as multi-purpose tools. In the Neolithic period, stone axes that were partially ground around the blade section were made. They are believed to have been mainly used to till the ground. Stone axes became specialized tools in the Bronze Age, with differently shaped and sized axes serving different functions. As a result, a wide range of stone axes were produced, including stone chisels, grooved adzes, star-shaped mace heads, and moon-shaped mace heads.

Part 4 Various Ways of Studying Stone Tools

Stone axes, the most frequently discovered type of prehistoric tool, first appeared in Africa around 2.6 million years ago. They continued to be made for a long time subsequent to the discovery of metal, and some types are still used today.
Modern-day archaeologists employ various methods, such as typological classification, symmetry analysis, use-wear analysis, and flake scar analysis, to study these stone tools. Typological classification is a traditional approach that involves the ordering of stone tools into different categories, based on which different types are established. The first step begins with the drawing of illustrations that faithfully record the size and shape of the stone tools. Traces observed on the surface of the stone tools can be used to infer their production method and use. The experimental production and use of such stone tools by archaeologists or the study of indigenous people who continue to use them can also provide in-depth information on the manufacturing stages and functions of prehistoric stone tools.