Re-examination of the Chronology of the Late Neolithic Period in the Central-Western Region of the Korean Peninsula: Focusing on Dwelling Sites

The purpose of this study is to establish a refined spatiotemporal framework for analyzing changes in settlement patterns during the Late Neolithic period (c. 3100–2300 B.C.) in the Central-Western region of the Korean Peninsula. Although this period is characterized by significant social transformations, including shifts in site location and a reduction in settlement scale, previous chronological frameworks have been limited in incorporating recent excavation data and addressing discrepancies between radiocarbon dates and pottery pattern changes. To resolve these issues, this study prioritizes radiocarbon dates to re-examine the chronological position of individual dwelling sites in the Gyeonggi and Incheon regions. Pottery attributes, dwelling structures, and stratigraphic relationships are systematically analyzed to ensure accuracy. Additionally, a spatial criterion of a 300-meter interval between dwelling clusters is applied to define analytical units and improve chronological resolution. The results indicate that significant changes in settlement patterns began around 3100 B.C., identified in this study as the onset of the Late Neolithic period. The early stage is subdivided into Phase 1 (3100–2900 B.C.), a transitional period where elements of the Middle and Late Neolithic coexist, and Phase 2 (2900–2600 B.C.), which marks the full establishment of Late Neolithic cultural traits and accelerated inland expansion. During the Late Phase (2600–2300 B.C.), the frequency of transverse herringbone patterns, a key cultural marker, reaches its peak, while their stylistic regularity declines, suggesting a process of structural attenuation. The revised chronology proposed in this study enables a more precise assessment of contemporaneity among dwellings within individual sites and parallel temporal relationships between sites. This refined spatiotemporal framework provides a robust foundation for future macroscopic studies, including research on social structural changes and applications of Social Network Analysis (SNA).