The Characteristics of Neolithic Settlement Sites in the Central: A Comparison between the Gunjaman Area and Settlements in Northeast China

This study examines the formation and transformation of Neolithic settlements in the Gunja Bay area, focusing on the Siheung region within the Gyeonggi Bay, a major research target in Korean Neolithic studies since the 21st century. The Gunja Bay region features numerous settlement sites from the Early to Middle Neolithic periods, a phase marked by active variations in comb-patterned pottery. Analyzing pottery transitions, residential changes, and locational shifts reveals patterns tied to the introduction of early agricultural societies, shifts in resource utilization, and environmental changes. For further interpretation, comparisons were made with settlement data from Northeast China, particularly the Liaoxi region, which saw early large-scale settlements and initial agriculture, and the Liaodong region, where settlement transformations occurred during agricultural diffusion. In Gunja Bay, northern settlements like Yeongjong Island display temporal changes in pottery and carbon dating, alongside shifts in settlement scale and organization. Coastal settlements saw the disappearance of unsystematic residential forms, replaced by standardized, smaller settlements lacking hierarchical structures or ritual artifacts. Similar patterns in Liaoxi and Liaodong—such as reduced settlement hierarchies and a decline in ritual artifacts—highlight differences in livelihood models, including an increased reliance on fishing. These comparisons, particularly the shared networks between the Liaoxi and Liaodong regions, provide insights into the adaptation strategies and cultural characteristics of Neolithic societies in central-western Korea.