Okcheon 'manuichong' Tumuli, Haenam

Six tombs were said originally to have existed in Daegyodeul field in Okcheon-myeon, but three were destroyed during land-readjustment work in the 1960s, leaving only three standing today. Tomb No. 1 measures 16 m along its long axis, 14.5 m along its short axis and 4.5 m in height; Tomb No. 2 measures 6.8 m along its long axis and 1.9 m in height; and Tomb No. 3 measures 22 m along its long axis, 19 m along its short axis and 4.9 m in height. They have long been known locally as molmoe, molmudeom or malmudeom, all meaning 'big tomb'. Excavation has shown that Tombs No. 1 and No. 3 were built between the late fifth and early sixth centuries, a tomb type not previously seen in this area. Tomb No. 1 is a vertical-pit stone-lined tomb containing a mixture of artefacts from several regions: a Baekje gold-decorated silver curved jade bead (gogok), a bird-shaped vessel decorated with Silla-style clay figurines, and Wa-style shell bracelets, iron swords and mirrors. Tomb No. 3 is a stone-lined tomb with a side entrance, and a surrounding ditch was also identified; stone-lined tombs with a side entrance were employed as burial facilities only rarely in the south-western Korean peninsula, including Haenam, during this period. Having been looted, it yielded only a small quantity of artefacts, including glass beads, lidded dishes (gaebae) and short-necked jars (dangyeongho). The Okcheon tumuli are important archaeological material for examining both the complex growth environment of Haenam's regional society during this period and the pattern of a small inland community.

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Where it is

Region

Haenam, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물