Paju Gawol-ri and Juwol-ri Archaeological Site

The Paju Gawol-ri and Juwol-ri Archaeological Site is a Paleolithic site formed along the river terraces of the Imjin River. The site was first discovered in 1988, and five years later, in 1993, an official excavation was conducted on part of the site. Generally, the Paleolithic period refers to the time from the first appearance of humans to about 10,000 years ago. The Gawol-ri and Juwol-ri Paleolithic site shares basic characteristics with other sites in the Imjin-Hantan River basin, such as Jeongok-ri and Geumpa-ri. The artifacts mainly identified here include large stone tools such as hand axes, cleavers, choppers, cores, and flakes. During the excavation, hammerstones, small stone tools, and used stone materials were also discovered in large numbers, which are particularly important as they provide insights into the tool-making process of the time. Currently, the presence of ash layers in this area is very significant. Along with the Jeongok-ri site, it is evaluated as an important site for the study of the Paleolithic period in Korea and East Asia.