Russian-Korean Cooperation in the Study of Archeology of Siberia and the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

The history of archaeological studies of Siberia is counting more than 300 years of its existence, while active archaeological studies of Korean peninsula date back to the early 20th century. Russian and Korean archaeologists’ mutual interest in ancient and medieval history of Siberia and Korean peninsula relates to the territorial proximity and historical interrelations. During the last few decades the cooperation between Russian and Korean archaeologists is developing in several directions: specialists training, carrying out archaeological excavations in both Korea and Russia (Siberian and Far Eastern territories), publishing joint researches, holding scientific seminars and conferences. Main fields of studying include Stone Age, Early Iron Age and medieval archaeology. Siberian center of cooperation are Novosibirsk (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of Siberian Branch of the RAS and Novosibirsk State University). The first archaeological excavations with participation of Novosibirsk and Korean archaeologists were held in Khabarovsk region in 1999. Nowadays joint researches cover territories of Primorye and Amur region, Russian Altai and southern part of Korean Peninsula. Several famous Korean specialists got their PhD degree in Moscow, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok. Joint studies of two territories, which are considered as important parts of world’s history, have enriched historical science with large amount of new archaeological data. Moreover, scientific discussions between specialists make a great contribution to solving common problems of the initial ways of East Asia’s settlement, formation of ancient cultures and civilization.