Jeongok-ri in Yeoncheon is where a global archaeology textbook had to be rewritten. In 1978 an Acheulean hand axe was found here, overturning the long-held Movius Line theory that East Asia lacked sophisticated hand axes.
- Getting there
- Line 1, Jeongok Station
- Admission
- Museum is free
- Nearby
- Hantangang park · Jaein Falls
Why it matters
Scholars had assumed East Asian Paleolithic people used only chopper-level tools. The Acheulean hand axe from Jeongok-ri directly challenged that idea.
Jeongok-ri became a key site in Paleolithic research worldwide, and the county holds a Paleolithic festival each year.
Getting there & visiting
It is close to Jeongok Station on Seoul Metro Line 1. The Jeongok Prehistory Museum and the archaeological park adjoin each other, so you can see both together.
The museum is free to enter. Stroll the wide grassy park and take in traces of prehistory. Check opening hours before visiting.