"The Bronze Age in the Korean peninsula witnessed many significant social and
economic transformations, one of which was the transition from dispersed/
linear settlements to nucleated settlements in the late Early Bronze Age and the
concomitant emergence of the &ldquovillage community.&rdquo This paper considers how the
notion of the &ldquovillage community&rdquo may have been reproduced through funerary
practices of object deposition observed at the late EBA Phase I dolmens of the
Yongdam complex, located in Jinan, southern Korea. Firstly, it is suggested that
the stone objects deposited in and around the dolmens may have been personal
items relevant to the life history of the deceased. Secondly, the ceramic vessel parts
deposited around the dolmen burials are seen to have been associated with feasting
practices. Finally, the possibility that the stone objects deposited in a deliberately
broken and partial state may have been involved in practices of social enchainment
is considered. It is argued that these different practices of object deposition
mediated the sharing of memories, which in turn contributed to the establishment of
community history. The reproduction of community history, it is maintained, would
have played an important role in reproducing the notion of the &ldquovillage community.&rdquo"
