A Study on the Formation and Development Process of the 3rd~6rd Century Settlements in the downstream of Dong-cheon, Gwangyang

This article is a study on the process of settlements formation and development during the 3rd ~ 6th centuries in the down Dong-cheon area among the Gwangyang area, which is a regional area in the eastern part of Jeonnam.This region has been continuously yielding archaeological findings through recent ongoing excavations, necessitating further research utilizing both existing and newly acquired data. The historic sites over the down stream of Dong-cheon, Gwangyang region have been studied are 7 points and 10 locations. This place can be classified broadly into their features such as dwelling, mound, fortress, and production. This area is also where many foreign artifacts are concentrated. This is understood as the nature of the natural and geographic environment and the transitional zone of this area. Therefore, the above contents were reviewed, and the formation and development process of the Dong-cheon Stream downstream region in Gwangyang was examined by dividing them into Ⅰ~Ⅲ. In the 1nd period, natives broaden their residence to flatland in the 3rd centries and their housing culture and relics started to flow in and features as the transitional zone in the Mid-4th centries. It seemed that having grown while serving as a stopover for foreign relations, that to overcome the geographical limitation causing slow development, which located in boarder area of Mahan(馬韓) and Gaya(加耶). In the 2nd period, after early 5th cenries, the amount of Sogaya(小加耶) type relics have been appeared to overwhelmed to other political systems. Also their form of habitations had changed into a squre shape. Through the importing Mahan or Wae type relics, it can be seen as means of bridge in marine route connecting Baekje(百濟)-Mahan(馬韓)-Gaya(加耶)-Wae(倭) during this term. The down stream group of Dong-cheon, formed relationship between Sogaya(小加耶) more closely. It can be estimated by producing their own products and constructing mounded tomb of regional head’s tomb from fhe late 5th centries to early 6th centries, that indigenous forces had been increased. The eastern part of Jeonnam was designated as Imnasahyun(任那四縣), and it is certain that down stream of Dong-cheon were central settlement in Moru(牟婁). In the 3nd period, passing the first half of the 6th century, with the construction of Baekje(百濟) tombs and Maro Mountain Fortress, the downstream of Dong-cheon was included in the direct ruling system of Baekje's local administration, and it still remained as the central settlement of the Gwangyang region.