Center for Korean-American and Korean Studies 2024 International Conference

Title: Unpacking the Past: Archaeology, History, and Politics

Short Bio: 
Dean René Vellanoweth, an esteemed archaeologist with over 20 years of experience within the California State University System, proudly serves as the dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences (NSS) at Cal State LA. His journey in academia has seen him evolve from professor to department chair, and now to the leader of a college encompassing twelve diverse departments and programs, over 150 talented tenured and tenure-track faculty members, scores of gifted adjunct lecturers, and an incredible staff. Under his leadership, the College caters to nearly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students, aiding them in achieving their career objectives and personal aspirations.

Title: The Origins of Stone mound tomb in Northeast Asia and Liao-river Civilization

Abstract: The ancient stone mound tombs generally develop from a ‘Pit stone-mound tomb’ in which bodies are buried in the ground and stones are stacked on top of them, to a ‘Sarcophagus stone-pile tomb’ in which bodies are buried in a stone chamber with a cover stone and stones are stacked on top of it, and eventually to a ‘Piramid style stone-pile tomb’ in which various layers of stones were stacked in a pyramid manner. Surprisingly, all three forms of stone mound tombs are found In the Liao-river Civilization in the west Manchrian region, indicating where these tomb stones were ultimately originated. More surprising is the fact that these stone mound tombs originating from the Liao-river civilization spread and were passed down unevenly mostly to those areas such as the Korean Peninsula, Mongolia, and Central Asia. In particular, the early tomb systems of almost all ancient Korean states, such as Gojoseon, Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and Gaya, are in the stone mound tomb system. In contrast, no stone mound tombs are found in the central area of the Yellow River civilization. Most of the Yellow River civilization areas are of the Pit-grave system. This strongly suggests that the Liao-river civilization and the Korean Peninsula were directly connected from the beginning.

Title: Hongsan Culture and Its Varying Traces Across Northeast Asia: A “Cultural DNA” Approach

Short Bio: Dr. Gi Dae Bok is Professor of Archeology as Interdisciplinary Science and Director of Institute of Ancient Chosun at Inha University Graduate School, and President of Northeast Asian History Council in Korea. As a leading archeologist in Korea, he has led many archeological field projects such as “Gojoseon Relics, Historic Site D/B Construction (2013-16) and “Research on the location of ancient Goguryeo, Pyongyang” (2014-17). He has numerous publications in the field, including Have We Continued the History of Gojoseon? (2023) and Understanding Hongsan Culture (2018).

Title: New perspectives and outlooks from historical knowledge of Hongsan culture

Abstract: The theory of the world's first four civilizations that we learned in school needs to be revised. In late 20thcentury, the Yoha or Liao civilization was discovered in northeastern China. It has been determined to predate Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Indus, and the Yellow River Civilization. A close look at the archeological remnants of the civilization, especially its Hongsan culture is prototypical of the Korean culture, not the Chinese one. Geographically, the location of the Hongsan Culture closely overlaps with the main playgrounds of Korea's very first states, Gojoseon, and the Baedal State. The author further develops his own theory that Jecheon culture, meditation culture, and Pungryu(play) culture that we can find in Hongsan culture provides the origins of the three defining elements of Korean culture even today.

Short Bio: Dr. Simon C. Kim is Director of Han Eol Institution at South Baylo University, a leading local private research center in the field of ancient Korean history and philosophy. He has a number of publications in the field, including Hwndo Culture and the Civilization of Gochosun (2017), English translation of Hwandan Goghi (2017), and Introductory I-ching (2019)