Silla Princess Tomb 'Joksaem No. 44' to Be Reconstructed and Unveiled for APEC Summit

Construction Experiment Briefing from October 30 to November 1
Restoration of a Royal Tomb Featuring a Saddle Decorated with Jewel Beetle Wings

Construction Experiment Step 8 of Gyeongju Joksaem Tomb No. 44

Gyeongju Joksaem Tomb No. 44, known as the tomb of Silla royalty, will be reconstructed ahead of the APEC summit.

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage's Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage announced on October 22 that it will hold the 'Joksaem Tomb No. 44 Construction Experiment Briefing' at the Gyeongju Joksaem Site Excavation Center from October 30 to November 1.

Joksaem Tomb No. 44 is a representative Silla-era tomb, where over 800 relics were excavated, including a saddle decorated with jewel beetle wings. It is believed to be the tomb of a young princess.

Through excavations and interdisciplinary research conducted from 2014 to 2023, the institute has restored the entire tomb construction process. Based on these findings, since last year, the institute has been conducting experiments to recreate the actual construction process. This is an unprecedented attempt in global archaeology.

Currently, the process has reached the stage where a wooden structure has been erected, a double wooden coffin containing the remains and burial goods has been installed, and stones are being piled up. This corresponds to the eighth step out of a total of 21 steps.

Construction view of the wooden coffin in Gyeongju Joksam Tomb No. 44

The briefing will be held every 30 minutes from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Curators and researchers who participated in the excavation will provide direct explanations. Visitors will be able to hear about key facilities such as the wooden coffin, wooden structures, and stone mounds, as well as the construction tools and methods, and then observe the actual experiment site and excavated relics. Interpretation services in English, Japanese, and Chinese will also be available for foreign visitors.

An institute official stated, "As part of the 'APEC 2025 Korea Tour Program,' the event will be open not only to Korean visitors but also to APEC participants and foreign tourists. It will provide an opportunity to directly experience Silla's funeral culture and architectural techniques," adding, "We hope this will serve as an occasion to introduce the splendid culture of Silla, preserved in Gyeongju, to the world."