North Korean archaeologists are claiming discovery of a unicorn lair. I want this to be true but the source, North Korea's news organization, is even less credible and more partisan than the Huffington Post, where I saw it.
Because the actual website of KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY of DPRK is as sketchy as their science and direct linking to an article is impossible, I will include the bulk of the piece here. North Korea is not an IPO-treaty nation and they don't honor trademarks and have probably stolen the use of Science 2.0® for their own ends, just like China, Russia, the American Library Association and fly-by-night publisher Chandos/Woodhead in the UK have, so I don't feel bad pasting some stuff under fair use.
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"Lair of King Tongmyong's Unicorn Reconfirmed in DPRK
Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- Archaeologists of the History Institute of the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences have recently reconfirmed a lair of the unicorn rode by King Tongmyong, founder of the Koguryo Kingdom (B.C. 277-A.D. 668). The lair is located 200 meters from the Yongmyong Temple in Moran Hill in Pyongyang City. A rectangular rock carved with words "Unicorn Lair" stands in front of the lair. The carved words are believed to date back to the period of Koryo Kingdom (918-1392).
Jo Hui Sung, director of the Institute, told KCNA:"Korea's history books deal with the unicorn, considered to be ridden by King Tongmyong, and its lair."
The Sogyong (Pyongyang) chapter of the old book 'Koryo History' (geographical book)..."
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This basically means I can use Beowulf to start searching for Grendel. Fun, and if you are willing to fund me, NSF, let's talk, but I don't think it is science. Humanities, sure, but not science.
They conclude "The discovery of the unicorn lair, associated with legend about King Tongmyong, proves that Pyongyang was a capital city of Ancient Korea as well as Koguryo Kingdom."
Well, okay, if we are to accept that there was a Korea a thousand years ago in the sense that there was a modern Germany or France or US. There wasn't, there were instead a whole bunch of tiny nations with their own capitals, but I guess that is politics. History books aren't great science sources.
I'm excited about the opportunity this brings; perhaps North Korean archaeologists can discover the rest of the My Little Pony characters too.
Credit, link and copyright: Hasbro
H/T Patrick Jones
