세계적으로 알려진 벼의 종류를 살펴보고, 옛날 우리 나라에서 재배된 벼를 기록으로 검토하여 벼의 작물학적인 변이를 알아본 다음, 지금 야생으로 잔존하는 잡초도의 유래를 알아봄으로써 국내에서 고고발굴된 벼나 쌀, 그리고 불복장되어 지금 생생하게 볼 수 있는 벼와 쌀들과 지금의 재배 벼와의 관계를 살펴보고자 한다. 한정된 범위 내이지만 문헌을 참고하여 형태적으로는 고대형과 현대 재배형의 차이를 대조하고 短粒과 長粒이 있었으며, 부모의 유무가 있었고, 찰과 메가 있었는지를 살펴본다. japonica와 indica 벼가 비록 구별 취급되지는 못하였겠지만 그런 벼가 섞여서 재배되지는 않았을까 추측하며 검토해 본다. 아직까지 우리나라에서 출토된 고고 출토 곡물에 대한 보고서가 최근에 급속히 발달된 기기나 약품을 이용한 비교 분석법이 응용되지 못한 것이 많아서 아쉽게 생각한다.

The carbonized rice excavated at the KAHYUNRI site appeared as being Indica type and older than 4000 years. The carbonized japonica type rices older than that were excavated at the ILSAN site 1 and 2. Those sites are located at the Han river estuary. HUNAMRI, JODONGRI and SUYANGKAE sites located in order from the lower Han river valley were excavated and the carbonized rices dating each around 3000. 2300 and 2000 years old respectively were found. A few instances of long grains, gold and brown rice bull were found from the sites. Pubescent and smooth grains, awned and awnless grains were present. It is also speculated that indica and japonica with waxy and non-waxy starch rice were present at the time. In the meantime, at the western coastal area, it is believed that the rice farming was expanded in large scale at the SONGKUKRI site where carbonized rice or 2600 years old was found, and it was spread to the SONAMRI site located at Nakdong river valley where a large amount of 2300 years old carbonized rice were excavated from a spot where it appeared to be a granary in the site. At the SHINCHANGRI site, which is located in KWANGJU city, a large amount of short grain rice hull whose pile size is 150 ㎝ high was found. It is dated more than 2000 years back. Some large amount of carbonized short grain rice was found at the MUDUNGRI site where it was estimated as one of military fort during 5-6C. In north Korea, it has been reported that 3000 years old carbonized rice was excavated at the NAMKYUNGRI site. ONYANG ethnic musium reported well preserved 5 grains of brown hulled paddy rice and a hand full milled rice which were enshrined in Buddist`s emage in 1302 AD. Some of those milled rice showed high amylose content and some others showed waxy response.