Korea was populated through a series of migrations from the steppes of Siberia and Manchuria. Like the other peoples of Asia, they borrowed a great deal from China, but modified what they borrowed to suit Korean tastes and culture.
Pottery first appears in Korea during the Chulmun Period (6000 to 1300 BCE). During this time there was a sedentary village life based on hunting, gathering, and fishing. About 1300 BCE, agriculture was introduced and with this came increasing societal complexity, a hierarchical society, new forms of pottery, and new tools. About 200 BCE, Chinese influence is seen in the development of an iron technology. Locally made iron tools included axes, knives, sickles, hoes, chisels, fishhooks, spears, arrowheads, daggers, and long swords. Korean iron products were soon highly popular in both China and Japan.
Shown below are photographs of some of the Korean items on display at the Portland (Oregon) Art Museum.
Shown above is a large storage jar from the 4th century CE. The slightly raised band around the jar’s short, cylindrical neck may have helped to secure a lid made of leather or some other soft material.