Various Artifacts from the Silla Period Discovered in Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120
Additional Confirmations of Tombs No. 120-1 to the North and No. 120-2 to the South
First Case of 'Masato Mound Construction' Among Gyeongju Stone Coffin Tombs
Current distribution status of the tumuli in Hwangnam-dong 120, Gyeongju, and its surroundings. Blue (Three Kingdoms Period), Green (Unified Silla Period), Yellow (Goryeo to Modern Era).
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] During restoration and maintenance work at Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120, located in the Daereungwon area of Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do (Historic Site No. 512), a variety of relics such as gilt-bronze shoes, silver plates used as belt decorations, and horse harness ornaments were unearthed.
The Cultural Heritage Administration and Gyeongju City, considering the historical significance of these relics as Silla tomb artifacts excavated for the first time in 43 years since the 1977 investigation of the Inwang-dong tomb cluster in Gyeongju, decided to open the site to the public at 2 p.m. on the 27th.
The Hwangnam-dong Tomb No. 120, located within the Daereungwon area of Gyeongju (Historic Site No. 512), was assigned a number during the Japanese colonial period but was so damaged by residential development that the existence of the tomb itself could not be confirmed.
Accordingly, since May 2018, the Cultural Heritage Administration and Gyeongju City have been conducting excavation surveys to determine the presence and extent of Tomb No. 120. During the 2019 investigation of Tomb No. 120, two additional tombs were identified: Tomb No. 120-1 to the north and Tomb No. 120-2 to the south of Tomb No. 120.
The excavation results revealed that the mound of Tomb No. 120 remains well preserved. The mound was constructed using masato (weathered granite sand) measuring 26.1 meters northwest-southeast and 23.6 meters northeast-southwest. This is the first confirmed case of a stone-cist tomb (jeokseokmokgwakmyo) in Gyeongju where the mound was built using masato.
Tombs No. 120-1 and 120-2 were constructed by cutting into part of the mound of Tomb No. 120 and are presumed to be later tombs. Tomb No. 120-1 yielded iron cauldrons, glass beads, and pottery. Various artifacts, mostly estimated to have been made between the late 5th century and early 6th century, were excavated from the burial chamber of Tomb No. 120-2.
Notably, on May 15, a pair of gilt-bronze shoes (sokri) was discovered at the feet of the occupant buried in Tomb No. 120-2. The shoes have 'T'-shaped perforated patterns on the surface and are adorned with round gilt-bronze pendants (yeongnak).
Similar gilt-bronze shoes have been excavated from the southern tomb of Hwangnam Daechong in Gyeongju, and this is the first time in 43 years since the 1977 investigation of the Inwang-dong tomb cluster that shoes have been found in a Silla tomb in Gyeongju. So far, shoes excavated from Silla tombs are known not to have been used in daily life but were made for funerary rites to send off the deceased.
Additionally, silver plates used as belt decorations were found near the legs of the occupant, and several gilt-bronze pendants similar to those on the shoes were visible near the head. Future excavations will consider the possibility that these pendants were part of a crown or crown ornament (gwansik) worn on the head.
In the burial goods chamber, various horse harness decorations including gilt-bronze saddle bridges (angyo) and gilt-bronze cloud-shaped ornaments (unju), as well as bronze irons, iron cauldrons, and various pottery items were excavated.
The excavation team plans to complete the investigation of Tombs No. 120-1 and 120-2 and then proceed with a full excavation of the burial chamber of Tomb No. 120, which has not yet been investigated internally. Since Tomb No. 120 has a much larger mound than Tombs No. 120-1 and 120-2, the team expects to find relics of higher status than those excavated so far.
Meanwhile, to comply with social distancing measures related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the on-site briefing on the 27th will be divided into a press briefing at 11 a.m. and a public viewing at 2 p.m.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
