Typhoon Maemi struck the Korean peninsula on September 12th, 2003, causing widespread devastation.
In its wake, at Bibongri, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, a major storm swept through the area. The restoration efforts in the area commenced in the spring of 2004.
A passerby with a background in archaeology stumbled upon a shell mound and pottery shards from the Neolithic Age in the mud. Little did anyone expect that such significant Neolithic artifacts lay hidden in these ruins!
As the excavation began, traces of Neolithic life, buried for thousands of years, came to light. To the astonishment of all, the oldest boat on the Korean peninsula was unearthed.
In total, two boats were found in the Bibongri site. Though now inland, this area was once connected to the ocean.
A further examination in 2010 revealed an oar that was in near-perfect shape.
The boat discovered at Bibongri was a dugout, crafted from a 200-year-old pine tree.
It is regarded as one of the world's oldest boats, dating back to around 6000 B.C. Imagine the Neolithic people rowing these oars, venturing far into the sea!
The Bibongri site, uncovered due to the typhoon, offered more than just the boat.
A wealth of new findings, including fossilized feces, mesh bags, and pottery with boar illustrations, emerged from the site.
While the typhoon left destruction in its wake, it also unveiled a miraculous gift from the past.