Archaeologists discovered fragments of a Goryeo-period Cheongseok Pagoda at an excavation site in the Uncheon neighborhood park in Cheongju [1, 2].

The discovery is significant because it represents the first time in Korea that fragments of a Cheongseok Pagoda have been found at a temple ruin [1, 2]. This find provides new material for researchers to study the relationship between the pagoda and the nearby Heungdeok Temple [1, 2].

Heungdeok Temple is historically renowned as the location where the Jikji was produced [1, 2]. The Jikji is the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type [1, 2]. The proximity of the pagoda fragments to this site suggests a deeper connection between the architectural remains and the temple's intellectual legacy.

According to a report by YTN, the uncovered pieces feature a distinct blue hue with carved, uneven shapes [1]. The excavation took place in North Chungcheong Province, specifically within the boundaries of the Uncheon neighborhood park [1, 2].

Experts said the fragments are representative of the stone pagodas from the Goryeo era [1]. The discovery allows historians to better map the physical layout, and the spiritual significance, of the former temple complex [1, 2]. By analyzing the stone and the carving style, archaeologists hope to determine the exact timeline of the pagoda's construction and its eventual collapse.

Because the site is located near the historic Heungdeok Temple, the find bridges the gap between the material culture of Goryeo stone architecture, and the technological achievement of the metal type printing process [1, 2].

“the first time in Korea that fragments of a Cheongseok Pagoda have been found at a temple ruin”

This discovery provides a rare physical link between Goryeo-era religious architecture and the site of one of humanity's greatest technological milestones, the Jikji. By uncovering the Cheongseok Pagoda fragments, researchers can now analyze the socioeconomic and religious environment of Heungdeok Temple, potentially revealing how the temple's resources and status supported the development of early printing technology.