세종 이성의 조사현황과 성과 검토

Abstract

Sejong Fortress was first surveyed in 1985 for ancient mountain fortresses within the jurisdiction of Yeongi-gun. Subsequently, local scholars have speculated that it was built by Baekje and reused during the early period of the Goryeo Dynasty in connection with Lee Do (or Lee Chi). Further, there is a view that the fortress is 耳山城 built by 東城王, based on its geographical location and the types of artifacts excavated within the fortress. The first excavation of the fortress in 2021 confirmed that the walls and facilities within it were built based on the planned floor plan when the rampart was built and that important facilities were arranged by spatial partitioning within the fortress. The survey areas are the north–south oriented plains at the summit, the highest point of the fortress, and a section of the east wall. The tiered plain is the highest in the north and gradually decreases in elevation southward. The space was partitioned to create sites with stone masonry in each tier, and buildings or important facilities needed in the fortress were placed on the flat ground above it. There are four tiers in total, starting with the lowest one at the bottom tier and ending with the highest at the top in the north. From the base of Tier 1’s first stone masonry to the top of the fourth cornerstone, the overall elevation difference is about 12 to 12.2 meters. A dodecagonal multistory building was identified in Tier 1, a square building in Tier 2, a water collection in Tier 3, and a square building in Tier 4. In addition, at each tier, entrances and stairways were constructed for passage. The structure of the dodecagonal multistory building seems to have been constructed with a base of 12 angles; the building was arranged in a square using all 12 cornerstones in the center, and the cornerstones were arranged again in three rows on the outside: inner, middle, and outer. This structure suggests that the building was likely multistory. However, because of the short arrangement between the cornerstones, the building was likely not tall. The ramparts were constructed of stone masonry, with internal and external narrowing. Moreover, an impervious wall was placed on the inside, and water collection facilities were again on the inside. The ramparts also had an outlet in a piercing form. The excavation survey revealed a variety of remains and artifacts. Based on the appearance of the excavated artifacts, Sejong Fortress was constructed during the Sabi period of Baekje, and it seems that important facilities, such as buildings and wastewater collection facilities were placed inside after its construction. After the reunification of the Three Kingdoms, it seems that when the ramparts were rebuilt once again during the Unified Silla period, the water collection facilities were also rebuilt and reused. However, this period was short, and the fortress long remained unoperated. Later, as confirmed in the literature, there are traces of reuse in the ramparts after Goryeo in relation to Lee Do. Later, it was abandoned and ceased to function as a fortress.