Ancient Tombs in Gujeong-dong, Gyeongju

These are three tombs on top of an isolated round hill 40 m high in Gujeong-dong, Gyeongju. After a bronze dagger, horse bells and other iron artefacts were recovered and reported in 1951, the Gyeongju National Museum excavated the site in 1982. The internal structure in each case is a wooden-chamber pit tomb, in which a wooden chamber was placed inside a dug pit. Tomb No. 1 is located on the slope of the hill, while Tombs No. 2 and No. 3, on the hilltop, are presumed to be a joint burial of a married couple. Grey stoneware and stoneware were excavated from Tomb No. 1. Tomb No. 2, 6 m long and 1.2 m wide, yielded a brazier-shaped pottery vessel, 25 large socketed iron spearheads, and stoneware. Tomb No. 3, 8 m long and 1.5 m wide, produced a ring-pommel sword, armour, grey stoneware and stoneware. The co-occurrence of grey stoneware and stoneware suggests a date in the early fourth century, the initial stage of stoneware production. The armour is an archaic type made by joining eleven vertical iron plates, and the large socketed iron spearheads appear to have had a ceremonial character. Compared with other tombs of the period, the siting, scale, and the quality and quantity of grave goods suggest these were the tombs of the ruling class of the region. Tombs from the fifth century onward contain large quantities of gilt-bronze objects, making this an important site for understanding the developmental sequence of tombs.

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Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Historic Site · 사적