Ancient Tombs in Bujang-ri, Seosan

The Bujang-ri tomb complex in Seosan was investigated between 2004 and 2005 by the Chungnam Institute of History and Culture during excavation of a site being developed for rental apartments. A total of 37 Bronze Age features were found, including 31 dwelling sites and six pit features. A total of 74 Baekje-period features were investigated, comprising 40 dwelling sites, 13 mounded tombs, 18 pit features and 3 stone-lined tombs. The 13 mounded tombs were built without encroaching on one another's precincts, except for a partial overlap of the perimeter ditches of Tombs No. 6, 8 and 9. Each mounded tomb is surrounded by a square perimeter ditch measuring about 20–40 m on a side. All the burial facilities are pit tombs, comprising a mixture of wooden-chamber tombs, using an outer wooden coffin, and wooden-coffin tombs without an outer chamber; within a single mound the number of burial chambers found ranged from as few as one to as many as nine. The artefacts found inside include pottery, ironware and ornaments. In particular, Mounded Tomb No. 5 yielded a gilt-bronze cap, an iron tripod ladle, gilt-bronze earrings, comma-shaped jade beads and various beads, along with a ring-pommel sword, an iron spearhead, an iron sickle, an iron axe and various pottery. A total of 104 Joseon-period features were investigated, comprising dwelling sites, pit tombs and pit features. Of these, seven were dwelling sites, all of irregular circular plan with a hearth and underfloor heating system built into one wall. The excavation revealed a settlement spanning the early to middle Bronze Age, including an early-period settlement of the so-called Heunam-ri type and middle-period dwellings of the Songguk-ri type. This is judged to be important material for understanding the early and middle Bronze Age culture of the Seosan region through comparative study with the nearby, recently investigated Gijiri site in Seosan and the previously known Hyuam-ri site. Tomb No. 1 at the summit in particular survives in very good condition and has great value as a resource for history education; the area covered by the investigation has accordingly been designated a historic site.

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Where it is

Region

Seosan, Chungnam

Designation

Historic Site · 사적