The discourse on the transition from the Early Bronze Age to Middle Bronze Age (represented by the Songguk-ri stage) is dominated by differences in opinion concerning the origins of the Songguk-ri culture, including the origins of Songguk-ri type dwellings. Foreign introduction versus indigenous development remains a controversial issue in relation to the Songguk-ri culture, but it is generally accepted that a reduction in dwelling size accompanied the transition from the Early to Middle Bronze Age. Those who champion the foreign origins theory maintain that square-shaped dwellings derived from Early Bronze Age longhouses and persisted into the Middle Bronze Age, representing an exchange with the foreign elements of the Songguk-ri culture. In contrast to this, those who accept an indigenous origins theory emphasize the reduction in dwelling size that continued from the Early Bronze Age and argue that it was under such conditions that Songguk-ri type dwellings emerged. In relation to this, studies have been undertaken in the Hoseo region and the area of Gyeonggido Province but a detailed review has yet to be satisfactorily performed on the Youngnam region, which was another center of the Songguk-ri culture.
The present study examined the evidence from the lower reaches of the Geumho River (corresponding to the Daegu and Gyeongsan areas) where the unique style of the Youngnam sphere has been exposed. It was identified that in this region, as with other regions, square-shaped dwellings continued to exist during the period of the Songguk-ri culture. However, regional variation could also be observed. Furthermore, as the Daegun and Gyeongsan areas border the Geomdan-ri culture sphere, important insights could also be obtained on the cultural interaction between these two culture spheres. The site of Okgok-dong, in Gyeongsan, is particularly interesting as it has yielded the remains of a diverse range of different dwelling types, making it possible to trace diachronic change in the dwellings of the region. As a result of this study, the boundary with the Geomdan-ri culture sphere was further extended westwards.