Changwon Special City to Open 'Changwon Dahori Tumuli Cluster' Excavation Site to Public on the 21st

Multiple Artifacts Unearthed, Including a Proto-Three Kingdoms Period Log Coffin, Bronze Mirror, and Lacquerware
Remains from Various Periods Also Identified Through the Excavation

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam Province will hold an expert academic advisory meeting and a public site tour for citizens regarding the 'Changwon Dahori Tumuli Cluster Excavation Survey,' a nationally designated cultural heritage project that has been underway since 2025. The events will take place on the morning and afternoon of April 21, 2026.

This excavation, conducted as part of a national heritage conservation and maintenance project, began after obtaining a burial heritage excavation permit from the National Heritage Administration in April 2025 and was carried out by the Gyeongnam Research Institute.

‘Changwon Dahori Burial Mounds’ excavation site. [Photo by Changwon City]

The Changwon Dahori Tumuli Cluster is a representative archaeological site from the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period (1st to 3rd century), illustrating the beginnings of ancient state formation in the Yeongnam region. After the National Museum of Korea launched the first academic excavation in 1988, the site was designated as a National Historic Site in September of that year.

Notably, a log coffin burial (a coffin carved from a single log) from Tomb No. 1, identified during the initial excavation, yielded the earliest known 'brush' on the Korean Peninsula. This artifact provides crucial evidence for understanding the use of ancient writing and literacy in early Korean society.

The most significant finding from this latest excavation is the discovery of a well-preserved log coffin from the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period, which differs in form from the log coffin first found in 1988. This marks the first such case, making it of considerable academic significance. Inside the coffin, a bronze mirror and lacquerware presumed to have been used for ritual purposes were also found. These artifacts are considered important evidence that clearly illustrates the funeral rites and burial culture of the time.

Additionally, more than 250 relics were unearthed, including Proto-Three Kingdoms Period pottery such as horn-shaped handled jars (composite bull-horn-shaped pottery), pouch-shaped jars, various ironware, a small gilt-bronze Buddha statue and roof tiles from the Unified Silla period, as well as remains of buildings from the Goryeo period. These discoveries have further elevated the significance and value of the Dahori Tumuli Cluster.

Kim Manki, Director of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, stated, "The results of this excavation have further enhanced the historical value of the Dahori Tumuli Cluster. Based on the findings, we will establish a comprehensive maintenance plan for the systematic preservation and utilization of the cluster, thereby strengthening its status as a leading cultural heritage of our region."

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