One Okya-ri Jangdong rectangular tomb
Four Naedong-ri twin tombs
Final decision after review by the National Heritage Administration
On April 23, Jeonnam Province announced that the Yeongam Sijong Tumuli, a representative heritage site of Mahan culture in Jeonnam, has been preliminarily designated as a National Historic Site.
This preliminary designation is a significant achievement resulting from the efforts of Jeonnam Province and Yeongam County, which have actively supported the investigation and research of Mahan cultural heritage since 2018, following its designation as a provincial monument in 1986.
The final designation as a National Historic Site will be confirmed after a 30-day notice period during which public opinions are collected, and after the final review by the Cultural Heritage Committee of the National Heritage Administration.
The Yeongam Sijong Tumuli is a large group of ancient tombs constructed from the mid-to-late 5th century to the early 6th century. It consists of a total of five tombs, including one Okya-ri Jangdong rectangular tomb and four Naedong-ri twin tombs.
These tombs clearly reflect the social and cultural changes of the Mahan period through their construction, burial techniques, and unearthed artifacts.
Artifacts excavated from the site include gilt-bronze crown ornaments, distinctive earthenware from the Yeongsan River basin, localized foreign relics, celadon cups, and Southeast Asian glass beads. These findings demonstrate that the Mahan polity maintained an independent identity and engaged in active exchanges with Baekje, Gaya, China, Wa (ancient Japan), and Southeast Asia.
The Okya-ri Jangdong rectangular tomb and the Naedong-ri twin tombs in Yeongam, after being designated as provincial monuments in 1986, did not receive much attention until Jeonnam Province began promoting the "Mahan Restoration and Maintenance Project" as a core initiative in 2018, achieving various policy outcomes.
Jeonnam Province led the enactment of the Special Act on Historical and Cultural Zones, secured national funding for projects such as the maintenance of historical and cultural zones, major archaeological excavations in these zones, and the establishment of the National Mahan History and Culture Center, and attracted national institutions.
Through provincial projects, Jeonnam Province has continuously implemented a mid-to-long-term plan for the Mahan historical and cultural zone, hosted international academic conferences on Mahan culture, and supported archaeological investigations of Mahan sites, leading to this achievement.
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