Ancient Tombs in Yangdong-ri, Gimhae

The Ancient Tombs in Yangdong-ri, Gimhae, were formed over the period from the second century BCE to the fifth century CE; excavations have brought to light a variety of burial forms and a great number of artefacts, making the site important evidence that reveals at a glance the historical facts of the Gaya state from its formative to its developmental period. The site was recognised early on as one of the central tomb sites in the Gimhae area; the first excavation was carried out by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in 1984, followed by four further excavations conducted by the Dong-eui University Museum between 1990 and 1996, which uncovered 548 features, including wooden coffin tombs, wooden chamber tombs, stone-lined chamber tombs and jar-coffin tombs, together with about 5,100 artefacts such as pottery, bronzes and ironware. The features identified provide important evidence supporting research into the transformation of burial customs over time and their chronology, while the various artefacts recovered not only reveal at a glance the actual state of Gaya culture and its changes period by period, but also supplement much of the material lacking in earlier research, allowing us to observe the sophisticated, internationally connected character of Gaya culture. Through the results of these excavations it has become possible to understand more clearly the culture and the state and social character of Gaya society: it is now known that Guyaguk, or Bon-Gaya, was a maritime kingdom that flourished through vigorous seaborne activity, and it can be inferred that the late second to the fourth century was the height of Gaya's iron industry, a flourishing period of the Gaya era when maritime activity was at its most active and foreign goods were brought in directly by sea. The fact that iron production was the most important factor in Gaya's development also explains why the loss of its iron markets, and the resulting decline in value, was a direct cause of Gaya's decline, which gradually collapsed under pressure from the newly rising powers of Silla and Baekje. In this way, the Ancient Tombs in Yangdong-ri, Gimhae, may be called a precious site that, through the results of its excavation, not only display the essence of Gaya culture and artefacts period by period, but also clarify the growth of Gaya society and its state character in the lower Nakdonggang River region.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gimhae, Gyeongnam

Designation

Historic Site · 사적