Urban stratigraphy in Seoul
Seoul presents a hyper-modern face to the world, but beneath the steel and glass of districts like Gangnam and Seocho lies a vertical timeline of its past. This is urban stratigraphy, where the history of a city is preserved in sequential layers underground. Major redevelopment and infrastructure projects, particularly since the late 20th century, have become unintentional archaeological excavations. Digging for new subway lines and building foundations routinely slices through distinct historical epochs.
The uppermost layers consist of debris and foundations from the city's rapid reconstruction following the Korean War (1950-1953). Below this, archaeologists encounter the period of Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945). This stratum contains remnants of buildings like the Japanese General Government Building, which was constructed in 1926 and demolished in 1995. The infrastructure of colonial Gyeongseong, as Seoul was then called, often involved altering or destroying the city's traditional layout, leaving a distinct archaeological signature.
The Joseon foundation
Deeper still, excavation reveals the foundations of Hanyang, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). Discoveries from this period record life before the 20th century's dramatic changes. Construction projects, such as the 2019-2021 redevelopment of Gwanghwamun Square, have unearthed extensive remains of Joseon-era government offices, waterways, wells, and residential sites.
Artifacts are plentiful in this layer. Shards of white porcelain, the common dishware of the period, are frequently found alongside roof tiles (giwa). More significant finds have included parts of a bullanggi japo, a type of cannon based on European models from the 16th century, and caches of metal printing type from the 15th century. These objects show the daily life, administration, and military technology of early modern Korea. Even older history occasionally emerges. The Seocho area contains evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures, and the wider Gangnam region was part of the heartland of the early Baekje Kingdom (18 BCE - 660 CE).