Hapcheon Okjeon Ancient Tombs, Groundbreaking Ceremony Held to Pray for Safety and Accident-Free Excavation Team

Okgcheon Ancient Tombs Trail Maintenance Project
Detailed Excavation Survey to Be Conducted Within the Section

Hapcheon County in Gyeongnam announced on the 4th that it held a ground-breaking ritual for the "Precision Excavation Survey of the Cultural Heritage within the Okcheon Burial Mounds Trail Maintenance Project Section" at the Okcheon Burial Mounds located in Seongsan-ri, Ssangchaek-myeon.

This excavation site is located at 9-3, San, Seongsan-ri, Ssangchaek-myeon, Hapcheon County. The ground-breaking ritual (Gaetojje) is a ceremony performed before the excavation survey, in which offerings are made to the earth deity to pray for the safety and accident-free work of the survey team, as well as to express the desire for meaningful research outcomes.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Safety and Accident-Free Wishes by the Hapcheon Okjeon Ancient Tombs Excavation Team.

The ground-breaking ritual, held on the 3rd, was attended by officials from Hapcheon County Office and the survey team at the excavation site.

This excavation aims to uncover cultural heritage buried in the area before the maintenance of the deteriorated sections of the Okcheon Burial Mounds trail. The target area was identified during a cultural heritage trial survey in 2023 and covers 1,175 square meters. The Gyeongsang Institute of Cultural Properties will conduct the precision excavation survey.

The Okcheon Burial Mounds were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in September 2023 as part of the serial property "Gaya Tumuli." Notably, the Okcheon Burial Mounds are located on a ridge in Hwangga, a key transportation hub, and vividly demonstrate the active exchanges between the Gaya polities and neighboring states.

The current survey area surrounds Tombs No. 23, 28, and 54, which are believed to be the tombs of the highest rulers during the formation and development period of the Okcheon Burial Mounds group. There is a high possibility of discovering similar types of tombs and artifacts through this survey. Judging from the artifacts unearthed so far, such as gilt-bronze crowns, armor, ornate horse trappings, and ring-pommel swords?symbols of authority?there are high expectations for finding relics that showcase the splendor of Gaya culture in this excavation as well.

An official from Hapcheon County stated, "This is the first survey since the Okcheon Burial Mounds were inscribed as a World Heritage site in September 2023, and we expect to secure new archaeological material data through this excavation. We believe this will greatly contribute to the study of Gaya history in the Hapcheon region. After the excavation is completed, we plan to restore the burial mounds and maintain the trail, while also sharing the value of the heritage with local residents through public site openings and fostering a consensus on the justification and importance of preservation management."

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