Gohung Donghodeok Burial Mound Confirmed as Chief Tomb of Maritime Power in Namhae Coastal Area

Published 13 Nov.2023 14:57(KST)

Baekje and Gaya Culture Fusion in Hoenggu-style Stone Chamber Tomb

Gohung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Yeong-min) recently announced that the 'Gohung Donghodeok Tomb,' where an excavation was conducted, has been confirmed as the largest horizontal stone chamber tomb in Korea, showing a fusion of various cultures such as Baekje and Gaya, attracting great interest from the academic community.

This excavation was initiated on October 10 under the 'Special Act on the Maintenance of Historical and Cultural Areas,' as part of the 'Mahan Relics Excavation Survey,' supported by Jeollanam-do and Gohung-gun.

[Photo by Goheung-gun]

The excavated 'Gohung Donghodeok Tomb' is a round mound tomb with a diameter of 1,750 cm, and the entire size including the burial chamber (玄室) and the entrance facility (羨道) is approximately 884 cm in length and 168 cm to 184 cm in width.

The burial chamber measures about 704 cm in length and a maximum width of 184 cm, making it the largest horizontal stone chamber tomb confirmed in Korea. The entrance facility (羨道) was constructed on the south side of the burial chamber and is about 180 cm long.

More than 300 artifacts related to ancient regional rulers, including silver crown decorations, sprinklers, bronze mirrors, large swords, and quivers, along with various pottery, ironware, and jade items associated with Baekje and Gaya, were discovered in the tomb.

The floor of the burial chamber was lined with stones and red pottery fragments to separate the space, and features suggesting additional burials were also identified.

Through the structure of this stone chamber and the excavated artifacts, it is significant that the Gohung area historically served as a key maritime route hub and that the largest-scale elite tomb in Korea, reflecting a fusion of diverse cultures such as Baekje and Gaya, has been excavated.

Gohung-gun and the Nara Cultural Research Foundation expect that the results of this excavation will become a key topic for academic discussions regarding the structure, construction period, and characteristics of the 'Gohung Donghodeok Tomb.'

Governor Gong Yeong-min stated, "A meaningful relic that reveals the cultural origins of our county has been confirmed," adding, "We will continuously expand opportunities to illuminate historical culture and actively prepare utilization plans linked to the preservation and management of the relic and the historical and cultural area maintenance plan."

Gohung-gun and the Nara Cultural Research Foundation plan to open the excavation site to the public on the 22nd, which is expected to provide an opportunity to share the community's interest and the value of the relic.