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The National ResearchInstitute of Maritime Cultural Heritage(Director, Kim YeonSoo) affiliated toCultural Heritage Administration which surveys the proximities of the mudflatsat Cheongpodae, Yangjam-ri, Taean newly discovered at the last May the upperpart of the dragon-headed ornamental roof tile (Chuidu(鷲頭)) and the hilt shaped ornament, Geompa(劍把). On 29th June, 2022, they will be released firstly to the press at theNational Palace Museum of Korea (Located at Jongno-gu, Seoul City).

* Chuidu(鷲頭) : Largeornamental roof tiles to be installed at the both ends of the ridge ofthe roof on the royal buildings such as the palace

* Geompa(劍把) : Hilt shapedclay-made ornament stabbed on the top of the Chuidu

The upper part of theornamental roof tile and Geompa excavated at this time are artifacts to be assembled at the lower part of the roof tile which had beendiscovered and reported on 2019 during collecting the shells by a resident. Itwas confirmed that these were pairing with the ornamental roof tile (Upper andlower part) excavated during June 2021 by the NRIMCH. The whole shape of the dragon-headed ornamental roof tilebecame to assure firstly as the intact shaped Chuidu to be mounted on the ridgeof the roof owing to discovering the Geompa. In addition, it is very meaningfulin respect of acquiring the material data for the studies on the ornamentalroof tiles related to the royal families of Joseon Dynasty.

Especially, these areevaluated as unique archeological data for historical evidencing on the detailsof the royal buildings of the early Joseon Dynasty such as the building writtenat the records on establishing Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sungryemun Gate, YangjuHoeamsa Temple Site and etc.

* Ornamental roof tile : A specially made roof tileto guard the building or stand out the dignity and aesthetics by using on topof the ridge of the roof of wooden building

* Yangju Hoeamsa Temple: The largest and representative royal Buddhist temple in Korea from the late Goryeoto the mid-Joseon Dynasty

The Geompa excavatedon May 2022 is hilt shaped in 40.5cm x 16cm x 7cm.The cloud patterns in two rows are expressed at the both sides and it has ashort hold to be fit to the square hole on the top of the Chuidu.

The Geompa was usedpractically to block the rainfall flowing into the Chuidu, and it is deliveredthat the biting of the dragon engraved on the Chuidu has the meaning ofblocking the gnawing the ridge of the roof.

The cloud patterned Geompa excavated at this time is differed in its shapefrom the pattern-less simple rod type Geompa found from some dragon-headed rooftiles on the roofs of the palaces of the latter half of Joseon Dynasty, such asthe Injungmun Gate at Changdukgung Palace.

* Changdukgung Palace :The central palace of the late Joseon Dynasty, whose original form is the best preserved well comparedto other remaining Joseon palaces

The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of the Cultural Heritage Administration has a plan to examine the related artifactstill the mid of August through additional excavating and underwaterinvestigation. Moreover, the in-depth study will continue on the existence ofthe old ships at the seas where the Chuidu has been excavated, the productionand distribution of the ornamental roof tiles to the local areas.