Geochang-gun Announces Preliminary Designation of Mureung-ri Gaya Tumuli as Gyeongnam Province Monument

Distribution of a Total of 86 Burial Mounds in the Largest Gaya Tumuli Cluster in Geochang Area

Geochang-gun Namha-myeon Mureung-ri Gaya Tumuli Cluster (Photo by Geochang-gun)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam Province announced on the 5th that the Mureung-ri Tumuli Cluster (武陵里古墳群), the largest Gaya tumulus cluster in the Geochang area, has been preliminarily designated as a Gyeongsangnam-do monument.

The Mureung-ri Tumuli Cluster in Namha-myeon, Geochang, was confirmed as the largest Gaya tumulus cluster in the Geochang area, consisting of 86 burial mounds including large and medium-sized mounds, through surface surveys starting in 1997, detailed surface and research investigations, three excavation surveys, and academic advisory meetings.

The Mureung-ri Tumuli Cluster is divided into Districts Ⅰ and Ⅱ along the mountain ridge, with 34 mounds in District Ⅰ and 52 mounds in District Ⅱ.

Tumulus Ⅱ-M5 is estimated to be the largest stone chamber tomb in the upper Hwanggang area, and Tumulus Ⅰ-M6 is identified as a tomb of a powerful figure of the Gaya Kingdom built from the late 5th to early 6th century.

Moreover, the armor plates (札甲) and iron arrowheads excavated from Tumulus Ⅰ-M10, and the large sword and iron helmet (鐵帽) excavated from the main chamber of Tumulus Ⅱ-M5 provide materials that reveal the military system of the Gaya border region.

Most of the excavated pottery follows the Daegaya style but also shows pottery culture with characteristics unique to the Geochang area.

The Mureung-ri Tumuli Cluster in Namha-myeon, Geochang, is located at a strategic point allowing movement to Baekje and Silla, making it an academically important tumulus cluster for understanding the cultural landscape of the border region during the Three Kingdoms period. It is recognized for its unique style and as an important site to understand the construction style, nature, and period of large burial mounds in the Geochang area during the 5th to 6th centuries, leading to its preliminary designation as a monument.

During the 30-day preliminary announcement period, opinions will be collected, and after review by the provincial cultural heritage committee, it is scheduled to be designated as a monument.

The excavation and restoration project of Gaya relics is a campaign pledge of Gu In-mo, the mayor of Geochang, along with the promotion of Geoyeolsanseong to a national historic site. In addition to the Mureung-ri Tumuli Cluster, which has been preliminarily designated as a monument this time, the M19 tumulus of the Seokgang-ri Tumuli Cluster was additionally excavated and completed in 2020, and the academic excavation of Bunsanseong is currently underway.

The former mayor stated, “Through the excavation and restoration project of Gaya relics in the Geochang area, a strategic key point of Gaya, Silla, and Baekje, we will clarify the reality of the ‘Geoyeolguk’ and do our best to ensure the safe preservation and management of the tumuli so that they can be utilized as historical and cultural tourism resources.”

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