Characteristics and Changes of Korean Toilet Sites

In addition to spaces where taboos and ideas about ancient people's excrement are tied, toilets serve as structures, accessories, and tools based on manure treatment methods. In recent years, archaeological research related to this has been discussed in toilet archaeology. By analyzing parasite eggs excavated from excavation sites since the 1990s in Japan, this term provides several important scientific information about past society that cannot be obtained by any other method. In Japan, the study of ancient parasite eggs developed around toilet remains at the excavation site, which led to the development of ‘toilet archaeology’. On the other hand, in Korea, the lack of interest in excavations causes a lack of data, causing indifference to research, causing a vicious cycle in which research on toilet archaeology is not conducted. A total of 15 toilet remains in Korea were identified, 9 of Baekje and 3 of Silla and Joseon, respectively, but not in the Goryeo Dynasty. Although Baekje had a shorter history than Silla, many toilet remains were identified, but Silla had only 3 toilet remains compared to its long history of 1,000 years. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the structure from the Three Kingdoms Period to Joseon and modern times, focusing on toilet oil excavated in Korea, and to examine the characteristics and changes of the structure.