Goheung Seo-ochi Tumuli, Confirmation of Multiple Burial Construction Methods

Repeated Excavations Reconfirm Unique Cultural Aspects of Goheung

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do recently announced that following the discovery of a new tomb construction method at Bongryong Tomb in Dohwa-myeon, another unique tomb construction method was confirmed during the excavation of the ‘Seo-ochi Tomb,’ attracting great interest from the academic community.

This excavation was also conducted as part of the “Special Act on the Maintenance of Historical and Cultural Areas,” supported by Jeollanam-do and Goheung-gun as an archaeological investigation of the ancient historical culture ‘Mahan relics,’ beginning on May 9.

The Seo-ochi Tomb in Dango-ri, Dohwa-myeon, Goheung, was first identified through a surface survey in 2003. At the time of confirmation, the capstone was damaged, exposing the burial chamber, and no burial artifacts were found. However, similar in scale and construction method to the Goheung Bongryong Tomb, it reaffirmed a distinctive tomb style.

Large stones were used as capstones to cover the burial chamber. Inside the stone chamber, ‘doorpost stones’ were erected to form a corridor, and the burial passage leading to the main burial chamber was constructed with a curved side.

A circular thin layer of stone slabs or flagstones was laid around the burial chamber to form a type of stone floor called a jipseokbun. This reconfirmation of a new tomb construction style, where diverse cultures coexist, following the Goheung Bongryong Tomb, indicates that there was an independent cultural pattern in the Goheung area.

Meanwhile, artifacts such as gidae-pyeon (pottery stands used to hold bowls), gaebae (lids without rims covering dishes), and pyeongjeo-hopyeon (flat-bottomed jars) were excavated from the corridor and burial passage of the tomb. These findings are expected to become key points in academic discussions regarding the construction period and methods related to the tomb’s building techniques.

The Nara Cultural Research Foundation, which conducted the excavation, stated, “Based on the results of the Seo-ochi Tomb excavation as well as the Bongryong Tomb excavation conducted last March, we will be able to clarify the unique tomb construction style of Goheung-gun and its cultural aspects such as external exchanges.”

A county official said, “There should be an academic conference for experts to evaluate the scholarly value of tombs that reflect the characteristics of the Goheung region,” adding, “Once the excavation of the Bongnim-ri Tomb in Podu-myeon is completed, we plan to proceed with detailed discussions.”

Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo sevenshim@asiae.co.kr

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