Identifying Regional Identity Influenced by Baekje Culture
Developing Strategies for the Preservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage
Gohung County in South Jeolla Province (Governor: Kong Youngmin) announced on the 3rd that it had conducted an excavation survey of the Donghodeok Tomb located in Hoduk Village, Sinhori, Dohwa-myeon.
This survey was carried out with the support of South Jeolla Province as part of the '2024 Mahan Cultural Area Survey Support' project, in accordance with the Special Act on the Maintenance of Historical and Cultural Areas.
The 'Gohung Donghodeok Tomb' is a square-shaped tomb measuring 14.1 meters east to west and 15.1 meters north to south, with its surface finished by covering it with small stones. Passageways constructed with stone were identified at both corners on the southern side, showing a highly unusual structure.
In particular, it is presumed that the main burial chamber of the tomb was initially installed as a stone coffin, but was later reused as a stone chamber. This stone chamber is evaluated as the largest horizontal entrance stone chamber in Korea, with a total length of 8.84 meters and a width ranging from 1.68 to 1.84 meters.
During the 2023 survey inside the tomb, more than 500 relics were unearthed, including silver crown ornaments, armor, bronze mirrors, large swords, and quivers related to the ruling class, as well as various pottery and ironware.
In this survey, by focusing on the area around the stone chamber that had not been previously identified, two auxiliary burial facilities, called bugwak, were newly discovered.
From the bugwak, the same type of bunju pottery as that found on the floor of the main stone chamber was excavated. This type of pottery is usually used for decorative purposes outside the tomb, and Gohung is currently the only known case where it has been used on the floor inside the burial chamber. In addition, in the mound, fragments of pottery related to ritual activities were found, attracting attention as important materials.
Lee Youngcheol, director of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, who led the Donghodeok Tomb survey, said, "This site clearly shows the transition process from the existing indigenous powers to Baekje in a key stronghold area, and will serve as an essential resource for understanding the ancient history and culture of Gohung."
An official from the county stated, "We will continue to conduct systematic and ongoing excavations and surveys to identify the unique cultural patterns of the Gohung area and the network of relationships among surrounding sites. Based on this, we aim to establish the historical and cultural identity of Gohung, and to develop strategies for the preservation and utilization of its cultural heritage."
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