Yanggangseom Stone Mound Tomb in Yangpyeong Designated as Gyeonggi-do Provincial Heritage Monument

The Largest Ancient Tomb in Korea
A Key to Unraveling Regional History
of the Han River Basin from the 3rd to 5th Centuries

Yangpyeong County in Gyeonggi Province (Governor Jeon Jinseon) announced on April 6 that the "Yanggangseom Stone Mound Tomb in Yangpyeong," the largest ancient tomb site in the Han River basin, was officially designated and announced as a Gyeonggi-do Provincial Heritage (Monument) on April 3.

Interior of the chamber of the piled stone tomb at Yanggang Island, Yangpyeong. Provided by Yangpyeong County

This designation recognizes the site as a key heritage location that can shed light on the existence of ancient local powers that flourished along the Namhan River in Yangpyeong and the societal changes in local communities during the Hanseong Baekje period. It has been acknowledged for its historical and academic significance.

The Yanggangseom Stone Mound Tomb in Yangpyeong (a tomb constructed by stacking stones) is the best-preserved among similar stone mound tombs discovered so far. It boasts the largest scale, measuring 94 meters in length, 60 meters in width, and 9 meters in height. The tomb structure features a multi-chambered, serial extension design, where the outer walls of the tomb chambers are continuously expanded by adjoining stones. A recent detailed excavation identified 25 tomb chambers, and it is estimated that there may be more than 300 tomb chambers in total.

Artifacts unearthed from the site include the stone mound itself, short-necked jars (dankyongho), long-bodied jars (jangdongho), iron arrowheads (cheolchok), and iron sickles (cheolgeom), all believed to be related to ancient burial rituals.

The Yanggangseom Stone Mound Tomb in Yangpyeong is considered an important archaeological resource for understanding the historical developments along the Namhan River from the 3rd to 5th centuries, when Hanseong Baekje was becoming established as an ancient state. In particular, it is significant as a representative site where the emergence and disappearance of stone mound tombs can be traced.

The county plans to create a historical and cultural space through systematic investigation, research, and the establishment of a comprehensive maintenance plan, further developing it as a local historical and cultural tourism content.

Governor Jeon Jinseon of Yangpyeong County stated, "The designation of the Yanggangseom Stone Mound Tomb in Yangpyeong as a Gyeonggi-do Monument is a meaningful achievement that officially recognizes the value of our region's ancient cultural heritage. We will continue to ensure thorough preservation and management, transforming the site into a space where local residents can experience the history and culture of the region in their daily lives."

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