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On the Thunder-axe: Traditional Understanding of Prehistoric Stone Tools in Korea벼락도끼와 돌도끼Musée national de Corée, SéoulJusqu’au 3 juillet 2016When did people first become aware of the numerous prehistoric sites and artifacts found throughout the Korean Peninsula? The ‘thunder-axe’ is a term that was used during the Joseon Dynasty for stone axes that were supposedly found where lightning had struck the ground. Believed to have been used by the god of thunder and lightning, these heavenly objects were presented to the Joseon king as offerings from the people, since they were seen to have great power in warding off evil spirits, and were regarded as a cure-all.In the mid-twentieth century, stone axes began to be studied by archaeologists, who were able to establish when and how they were made, how they were used, and how their forms developed over time.This exhibition illustrates how perceptions of the stone axe, an everyday prehistoric tool, changed over time. It will allow the general public to examine the trajectory by which our present-day perceptions came to be formed, thereby providing a link between the past and present-day communities of the Korean Peninsula.