National Gyeongju Museum announced on September 10 that it will re-excavate the Seokchim Tomb (石枕塚), a Silla stone chamber tomb first investigated by the Japanese in 1909.
The name Seokchim Tomb comes from the discovery of a 'seokchim' (石枕, stone pillow) inside the tomb. The 1909 investigation confirmed the existence of the stone chamber, a corpse bed (屍床), and the stone pillow, but the techniques and recording methods of that time were limited. No formal excavation report was published.
This new excavation will not only employ traditional excavation methods but also actively utilize scientific analysis techniques that have significantly advanced since Korea's liberation. The research conducted by Japanese scholars at that time lacked sufficient methods and documentation compared to today. Moreover, it was conducted in a historical context where ancient Korean culture was interpreted through a colonial lens.
During the 1909 investigation, the focus was primarily on artifacts within the tomb, neglecting important aspects of modern archaeology such as the construction process of the burial mound, the relationship between the stone chamber and the mound, the structure of the tomb path (墓道) and surrounding stones (護石), and traces of rituals performed at the tomb. The National Gyeongju Museum plans to meticulously compare existing records with actual remains to uncover traces that were either overlooked or not documented by the Japanese researchers in 1909.
In particular, the museum aims to reassess the structure and construction methods of the stone chamber, as well as the characteristics of burial facilities such as the corpse bed and stone pillow. They will analyze artifacts and burial traces that were not collected to determine when, for whom, and how the Seokchim Tomb was constructed. Alongside this re-excavation, the museum will also investigate and research artifacts excavated in 1909 that are currently housed at the University of Tokyo in Japan. It is known that artifacts from the Seokchim Tomb were taken to Japan by researcher Seiichi Yatsui and donated to institutions like the University of Tokyo.
The Seokchim Tomb is located in the Seoak-dong tomb complex, a key area for Silla studies that includes the large tomb of King Muyeol. However, despite its significance, systematic excavations have been insufficient since liberation, making it difficult to clarify the dating and characteristics of the Seoak-dong tomb complex and the relationships between the individual tombs.
The museum stated, "This excavation is the first step in filling these research gaps," adding, "We hope it will provide foundational data for a new understanding of the historical significance of the Seoak-dong tomb complex and the transition of burial practices from stone mound tombs (積石木槨墳) to stone chamber tombs in Silla."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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