Gwangju City Finds White Porcelain Kiln Sites Over 22 Meters Long in Usan-ri... Largest Ever in Joseon Kiln Excavations

Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province: Two of Three Kiln Sites
Link to Production of White Porcelain for the Royal Court Draws Attention
Excavation Site to Open to the Public on Nov. 4

Two early Joseon white porcelain kiln sites, each more than 22 meters long, have been discovered at the Usan-ri kiln site in Toechon-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. They are the largest kiln sites ever identified in excavations of Joseon white porcelain kilns in Gwangju.

A kiln site for early Joseon white porcelain has been identified at Doyoji in Usan-ri, Toechon-myeon, Gwangju-si. Of the three kiln sites discovered in the survey, two are more than 22 meters long, making them the largest ever found in an excavation survey of Joseon white porcelain kiln sites in Gwangju. Mayor Park Gwan-yeol inspects a kiln site. Courtesy of Gwangju City.

Gwangju City announced on Nov. 2 that three early Joseon kiln sites had been identified in an area around 71-2 Usan-ri, Toechon-myeon, where the Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum of the Korea Ceramic Foundation is conducting an excavation. Two of the sites were found to be at least 22 meters long.

The kiln sites discovered this time have relatively well-preserved floor structures and wall features. They are considered important materials for understanding the structure and construction methods of early Joseon white porcelain production facilities.

Previous excavations at the Usan-ri kiln site unearthed lids for taehangari, jars buried in royal placenta chambers, as well as white porcelain inscribed with characters reading "Se" and "Jung." This has raised the possibility that the site produced white porcelain for the royal court. With the discovery of large-scale kiln sites, attention is focused on whether researchers can clarify the link between the white porcelain production system in the Gwangju area at the time and supplies to the royal court.

Gwangju City and the Korea Ceramic Foundation will open the excavation site and share the main findings with the public in two sessions on Nov. 4, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. For inquiries, contact the Korea Ceramic Foundation.

An early Joseon white porcelain kiln site identified in Usan-ri, Toechon-myeon, Gwangju. Two of the three kiln sites discovered in this survey are more than 22 meters long, making them the largest ever found in an excavation of Joseon white porcelain kiln sites in Gwangju. Mayor Park Gwanyeol inspects the site. Photo provided by Gwangju City.

Since 2017, Gwangju City has worked with the Korea Ceramic Foundation under an entrusted management agreement to conduct excavations at around 50 historic kiln sites as part of efforts to preserve and manage the Gwangju Joseon White Porcelain Kiln Sites. This year, the city plans to continue research to establish the historical value of the sites after signing a new agreement with the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.