Significance of the Amsa Neolithic Settlement as a potential candidate for inscription of World Heritage
The most significant value of the Amsa Neolithic site is that this site represent the earliest permnent Neolithic village established on riverine terrace inland adapting to terrestial environment remote from coastal zone of Yellow Sea which is believed to have been original Neolithic adaptation took place in early Holocene. This fact can be supported by the appearance of completely developed form of comb-patterned pottery at the Amsa settlement. the other very important aspect of Amsa Neolithic culture is fully developed pottery decoration of geomtric design. It should be considered a new stage of expression of humanity in daily life in their living space. This is one very important development of humanity in early Neolithic Age along with painted decoration on pottery; ‘arts for daily living’. In thes regards, Neolithic culture at Amsa prehistoric village should be appreciated as one most valubale example of development of humanity, in particular in Northeast Asia.
The Amsa Neolithic site is preserved as a National Historical Monument. Neolithic cultural layers are found very well preserved at the time of campaign of excavation in 2016 and the surrounding area has not been experienced any major urban development. Therefore, it is generally believed the Neolithic village is preserved without any major disturbance in the area. It is expected to find more pit dewellings and other sites with different functions such as cemetery, garbage disporsal areas etc. Historical landscape is being improved greatly by extensive efforts by the Gangdong district Government with assistance of Seoul Metropolitan government.
Amsa Neolithic settlement is the most well known and preserved site in the peninsula, Osanni site in eastern coast, Dongsamdong shell midden site in southeast coast, and some sites in the Daedong river basin in North Korea represent local variation of early Neolithic comb-patterned pottery culture with aquatic subsistence in the Korean peninsula. They, along with the Amsa Neolithic culture, provide valuable archaeological evidence for understanding expansion of aquatic culture and process of fully development of typical pottery decroation culture in Northeast Asia.
