From Dolphins to Pufferfish... The Shilla Aristocrats' Ancestral Ritual Table Was a Feast

Publication of the Re-excavation Report on Seobongchong at the National Museum of Korea
Animal Remains Including Fish and Marine Mammals Found in Ritual Jar
"Shows the Luxurious Diet of Gyeongju Nobles"

Appearance of animal remains found inside the large jar in the southern chamber of Seobongchong, Gyeongju

It has been revealed through the investigation of Seobongchong (瑞鳳塚, Historic Site No. 512) in Gyeongju that 1,500 years ago, the Silla royal family used dolphins, soft-shelled turtles, sea urchins, pufferfish, and other animals in their rituals.

The National Museum of Korea published a report on the results of the re-excavation of Seobongchong conducted from 2016 to 2017 on the 7th. Seobongchong is a tomb of the Silla royal family located in the Daereungwon area of Gyeongju. It is a twin tomb where the southern and northern mounds meet, constructed around 500 AD. The site was investigated by the Japanese colonial government in 1926 and 1929, with the participation of Swedish Crown Prince Duke Gustav, and a gold crown decorated with a phoenix was excavated, giving the tomb its current name.

The re-excavation confirmed that the Silla royal family conducted rituals by placing twenty-seven large jars (daeo, jars over 50 cm in height) around the perimeter stones (hoseok, 護石) of the tomb. This fact does not appear in historical records such as the Samguk Sagi or Samguk Yusa. Traces of food offerings were found in jars numbered 2 to 5 from the southern mound. Various animal remains including shellfish, fish, marine mammals, and reptiles were identified. Professor Kim Geon-su of the Department of Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology at Mokpo National University wrote in the report, "Organic materials and pottery were mixed inside each jar, and animal remains were found in small quantities without species specificity," adding, "It appears they were mixed in during a re-depositional process."

Pufferfish animal fluid

Approximately 7,700 animal remains were identified by species and body part. The majority were shellfish (sea snails, conchs, abalones, oysters, clams, mussels, ark clams, and freshwater snails) and fish (sharks, herrings, rockfish, spotted rockfish, black porgy, red seabream, yellowtail, croaker, yellowtail, amberjack, flounder, rockfish, sea bass, mackerel). Dolphins, soft-shelled turtles, and pufferfish?which are difficult to eat without removing their neurotoxins?were also found. Professor Kim stated, "Since the ritual food offerings were placed in containers and buried around the tomb, they can be considered as 'tribute' offerings."

Excavation of Seobongchong in Gyeongju (2017)

All the animal remains are from species that inhabit aquatic environments. They could have been harvested or caught in present-day Gyeongju, Ulsan, and Pohang. The report noted, "This points not only to the worldview of the deceased regarding the afterlife but also reflects aspects of the living people's dietary habits," adding, "It demonstrates the luxurious diet of the Gyeongju aristocracy." It also stated, "Cases of animal remains being excavated from ancient tombs have been increasing recently," and "As analyses progress, the symbolic meanings of animals in funerary and ritual ceremonies may become clearer."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.