I've introduced anarchaeology on this site a few times already. What started out as a kind of funny portmanteau and a possible new way to refer to UE has evolved into a new branch of UE dedicated to clandestine access to archaeological sites.
This is especially relevant to central Seoul, where a law mandates archaeological surveys of land prior to major redevelopment projects. It helps that these sites appear at former abandonments explored by local explorers, and that usually they don't improve security so we can get in using the same techniques from before. It's a unique stage in urban development that we have the opportunity to witness. And this is probably one of the best examples of such sites I've seen in a long time.
1. The demolition site is next to Pimatgol, a special shortcut for commoners during the old dynasty days, when they could duck into this narrow alley and move fast without having to worry about encountering aristocrats, who would be getting around by horse. The name of this alley, Pimatgol, literally means "Avoid-Horse Alley." One of my friends has been starting to put stickers on places like this.
2. To the right is a narrow row of aging buildings, and on the other side of that is the main thoroughfare through downtown Seoul, from the eastern city gate to the western one. To the left there used to be all sorts of businesses for commoners, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and love motels.
3. Here's another somewhat similar alley. The building blocking out the sky is called Centropolis, and when it was being built five years ago, people lost their collective shit when things like
this got out. But unless it gets into a reputable publication, nobody cares.
4. I found a cluster of traditional houses all abandoned along one edge of the property.
5. Here's a view of the alley, which is still in robust use.
6. On the other side of the metal shutters is the archaeological site.
7. I got to the other side with little difficulty. You can see archaeological work here, as they are unearthing stones of historic buildings, and circling the foundations.
8. Seeing it up close, I could tell it was a lot.
9. I had to move carefully not to disturb the scene.
10. This picture shows Centropolis in the center, and Jongno Tower on the left, which I like to call the Eye of Sauron. An image of it was actually used in SNL to represent some sort of
supervillain headquarters.
11. An unearthed well.
12. There were numbers written on the blocks of this wall, probably for reassembly elsewhere.
13. Tree stumps.
14. In the middle was this island of unexcavated dirt, with three power boxes sitting on top.
15. I liked how they propped up excavated wall materials with wood stakes.
16. Looking back the way I'd come.
17. This picture shows a cross-section of the unearthed dirt. I'd say it's about the same height as me. I like how the top layer is thick poured concrete, on top of carefully arranged carved stones. The layers they're interested in date back to about 1400, shortly after Seoul became the nation's capital. I know from other sites it is much taller than this.
18. You can see the inside of the metal construction shutters I'd shown in picture 2.
19. I liked how this looked, although that pipe is obviously new materials.
20. After I escaped, I got on a nearby roof to view the whole area. Also that's a super pink moon in the sky.
21. Here's a better shot of the abandoned houses.
22. And some kind of rooftop restaurant.
23. The roof I was on had a break area for workers.
24. I went outside where unmasked smokers were standing near my scooter.
25. One of the nearby alleys during blue hour.
26. And I ended up in one of the super-new buildings, which was very appropriately named "Replace."