The Beginning and Transition of Enjoyment of the Neolithic Age Discovered Japanese colonial era : Focusing on Prehistoric Sites in Amsa-dong

This study examines the chronological transformation of the Amsadong Site from its discovery to the present, focusing on changes in attitudes toward cultural heritage and the processes of its enjoyment. The findings reveal that although active archaeological surveys were conducted in Korea during the early Japanese colonial period, the Amsadong Site was excluded from these investigations. It was only after the Great Flood of 1925 that the site was naturally exposed, leading to the recovery of artifacts by non-specialists and a cursory investigation by the Religious Affairs Section of the Governor-General of Korea. Despite these developments, the site did not attract public attention. In 1937, the opening of Gwangjingyo Bridge significantly improved access to the area, and during the 1930s, the site became incorporated into popular hiking routes, prompting a shift in its perception as an object of leisure. Although comb-pattern pottery and pit dwellings were introduced as characteristic features of the prehistoric period, there were no significant preservation measures at the time. After Korea’s liberation, public interest in the site remained low until the 1960s, when rescue excavations during the construction of a baseball stadium brought renewed academic attention. Subsequently, the site's value was recognized, leading to its designation as a Historic Site in 1979 and the establishment of a preservation framework through a comprehensive maintenance plan in the 1980s. In later years, the development of park facilities and the Amsa Greenway project enhanced ecological and historical connectivity with the surrounding environment. Currently, efforts are underway to expand the site's reach and to achieve inscription on the World Heritage List. This study is significant in that it not only traces the transformation of preservation practices but also examines changes in the ways the site has been enjoyed and how the surrounding space has been restructured over time.