‘Aragaya Royal Tomb’ Recognized Worldwide
Haman County in Gyeongnam announced on the 18th that the final decision was made to inscribe the ‘Gaya Tumuli’ including the Haman Malyisan Tumuli Cluster as a World Heritage Site at the 45th World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
The ‘Gaya Tumuli’ were inscribed about 10 years after being listed on the tentative list in 2013, becoming South Korea’s 16th World Heritage Site since Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, and Jongmyo Shrine were first inscribed in 1995.
Jo Geun-je, chairman of the Gaya Cultural Area Mayors and Governors Council and the county governor who attended the 45th World Heritage Committee to promote the inscription, said, “First of all, I am very proud as a descendant of Gaya that the forgotten history of Gaya, including the Haman Malyisan Tumuli Cluster, has been recognized as a dignified part of world history through the inscription of the Gaya Tumuli as a World Heritage Site.” He added, “We will work together with all 24 cities and counties to ensure that the inscribed areas, as well as the entire Gaya cultural area, become seeds for development and prosperity.”
The Haman Malyisan Tumuli Cluster is the oldest tumuli cluster among the Gaya Tumuli and the only one that shows both the early and late periods of Gaya, thus recognized for its World Heritage value.
In 2018, during the active promotion of the Gaya Tumuli’s World Heritage inscription, a constellation of Gaya was confirmed in the excavation of Malyisan Tomb No. 13 in Haman.
Also in the same year, the Ara Gaya royal fortress site (Haman Gayari site) was discovered about 1 km northwest of the tumuli cluster, proving that the Malyisan Tumuli Cluster was the royal tomb of Ara Gaya. The Ara Gaya royal fortress, a meticulously built earthen fortress with a circumference of 2.4 km, was designated as a national historic site in October 2019, just 1 year and 6 months after its discovery, due to its perfect preservation and historical value. The scale of the Ara Gaya royal fortress rivals Mongchontoseong, the fortress of the peak period of Hanseong Baekje, making it the largest in the entire Gaya region.
In 2019, five shaped pottery pieces, designated as treasures, along with a phoenix-decorated gilt-bronze crown were excavated simultaneously, confirming the splendid civilization of Ara Gaya 1,500 years ago.
In 2021, celadon bowls from the Southern Dynasties of China were excavated for the first time from the Gaya Tumuli, demonstrating the international character of Ara Gaya.
Such artifacts excavated from the Haman Malyisan Tumuli Cluster during the inscription process ? including the constellation, phoenix-decorated gilt-bronze crown, shaped pottery, and lotus-patterned celadon from the Southern Dynasties of China ? are representative examples showing the excellence and internationality of Gaya culture, greatly contributing to the World Heritage inscription.
Recently, a collective production site for pottery, which was excavated from the tumuli cluster, was also confirmed. The Ara Gaya pottery production site, located about 6 km north of the Malyisan Tumuli Cluster near the Namgang River, is the oldest collective pottery production facility on the Korean Peninsula, with 22 pottery kiln sites dating back to the 4th to 5th centuries.
It is the largest ancient industrial facility in Korea. The pottery produced here was distributed throughout the Korean Peninsula and even to Japan during the 4th to 5th centuries, becoming the origin of Sueki pottery production in Japan.
The process of inscribing the Gaya Tumuli as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was not smooth. Five days after the Haman Malyisan Tumuli Cluster and Gimhae Daeseongdong Tumuli Cluster were listed on the tentative list in 2013, the Goryeong Jisandong Tumuli Cluster was separately listed on the tentative list. These three tumuli clusters were combined under the name ‘Gaya Tumuli’ and selected as a priority candidate for inscription in 2015. However, the nomination dossier submitted in 2017 was rejected by the Cultural Heritage Committee due to issues with integrity.
In response, in 2018, the Goseong Songhakdong Tumuli Cluster, Changnyeong Gyodong and Songhyeondong Tumuli Clusters, Hapcheon Okjeon Tumuli Cluster, and Namwon Yugok-ri and Durak-ri Tumuli Clusters were added to the nomination, and the inscription was successfully achieved this year.
Following the UNESCO inscription, Haman County will actively promote the Gaya Tumuli World Heritage inscription and attract tourists by hosting the Araya Cultural Festival from October 6 to 8 at Haman Museum, Malyisan Tumuli Cluster, and Aragil area, and the first-ever ‘Malyisan Tumuli World Heritage Media Art Festival’ among the Gaya Tumuli from October 20 for 20 days.
On October 27, the Ara Gaya Academic Symposium will be held, and on November 4, the Malyisan Tumuli Star Festival will take place, continuing promotional activities for the Gaya Tumuli World Heritage inscription and tourism attraction until the end of the year.
Additionally, a commemorative ceremony for the Gaya Tumuli World Heritage inscription will be held in November to open the future vision of Gaya culture.
Governor Jo said, “Haman, which has preserved the image of the royal capital of Ara Gaya, will now transform into a world heritage city and a true ‘capital of Gaya culture’ visited by people worldwide, leading the revival of Gaya civilization.”
For inquiries regarding the Haman Malyisan Tumuli Cluster World Heritage inscription and celebration events, please contact the Gaya History Division of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office of Haman County.
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