An ancient underground refrigerator discovered in a castle in South Korea

Archaeologists have discovered the oldest known ice storage room in South Korea at the site of one of the country’s most historically important royal castles. Dating back more than 1,400 years, this facility provides an unprecedented look at the complexities and architectural developments of feudal Korean culture.

Researchers discovered an ice storage cache while conducting the 17th excavation survey Bososansong Castle It is located about 90 miles south of Seoul in South Chungcheong Province. the UNESCO World Heritage Site Dating back to the Sapi period of the Baekje Kingdom (538-660 AD), it is strategically located on a hilltop overlooking the Geum River Basin. Busosanseong served as a political and cultural center during the Golden Age of Baekje, featuring ornate palaces, courtyard terraces, and Buddhist temples. By 660 AD, the castle was one of the last strongholds of the dynasty during the combined invasion from the neighboring kingdoms of Silla and Tang.

The cache also contains an urn that was buried as part of a blessing ritual. Credit: National Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Buyeo

According to South Korea National Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NRICH), Baekje workers carved a U-shaped statue approximately 23 x 26 feet tallBingoOr “ice warehouse” basically before Strengthening its southern wall With stone blocks. Although the additions reduced the total area, they likely helped maintain the internal temperature to slow melting. A circular drainage pit in the center of the warehouse also provides a receptacle for any inevitable water runoff.

Ice is often taken for granted today, but the ability to store and hold frozen water indicates enormous influence and privilege in ancient cultures. Having constant access to ice no matter the season not only provides chilled drinking water, it also keeps food preserved for longer periods of time. For this reason, ice caches were generally only used by social elites such as members of the royal family, who possessed the necessary technological knowledge and manpower. the Bingo In Busosanseong is the first structure of its kind found dating back to the Baekje era.

Five coins inside the jar
The urn contains Chinese coins, displaying a mix of the kingdom’s cultural influences. Credit: National Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Buyeo

Aside from the refrigerator, archaeologists also discovered important remains that speak to the cultural structure and religious beliefs of the era. buried under Bingo It was a ritual jar known as a jjingu Contains five Chinese Wushu coins. Architects often buried this short-necked terracotta figurine symbolizing prosperity and security at the site of a new project in the hope of receiving divine blessing. similar jjingu They are found around the capital of the Baekje Kingdom, and provide a window into the religious ceremonies of the time – a mixture of indigenous Korean spirituality mixed with outside Buddhist and Chinese influences.

The archaeologists now plan to move their work to the western section of the castle, which they believe will connect to the structures discovered during their recent survey.

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Andrew Ball is a staff writer for Popular Science.


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