New Mahan-Era Large-Scale Tomb Construction Techniques Identified in Gochang

Findings from the Excavation of Tomb No. 3,
the Largest Mahan Mound Tomb

First Identification in Korea of Combined
Earthen Bag Latticework and Fortress-Style Construction Methods

For the first time in Korea, a construction method combining different civil engineering techniques has been identified at Tomb No. 3 of the Bongdeok-ri Tumuli in Gochang—known as the largest mound tomb of the Mahan period. The findings from this excavation are being recognized as important material that demonstrates the advanced civil engineering technology and organizational capacity of Mahan society some 1,500 years ago.

Tomb No. 3 of Bongdeok-ri Burial Mounds in Gochang, Jeonbuk, Survey Site. Provided by Gochang County Office

On July 15, Gochang County held an on-site briefing to release the results of the third excavation conducted at Tomb No. 3 of the Bongdeok-ri Tumuli. This investigation was carried out as part of the National Heritage Administration’s excavation project of major historical and cultural sites.

During the first and second excavations conducted in 2023 and 2024, the burial mound’s sloped earthwork method and external facilities were identified. This third excavation produced meaningful results in clarifying the structure and construction techniques of the largest Mahan-period mound tomb.

The most notable discovery was that, for the first time in Korea, both the earthen bag latticework technique and a fortress-style construction method were used together.

This approach systematically combined differing civil engineering techniques to build a massive tomb, suggesting that the ruling powers of Gochang at the time possessed a high level of social organization and engineering skills, enabling them to mobilize and manage large-scale manpower.

It was also definitively confirmed that the center of the tomb did not contain a typical stone chamber or coffin burial facility. As a result, some experts now believe that Tomb No. 3 was likely constructed not as a simple burial site, but as a ceremonial space symbolizing the entire tumulus complex.

During the excavation process, large pedestal stands and fragments of earthenware jars, buried diagonally toward the center of the mound, were unearthed. These relics are being interpreted as evidence that planned and continual rituals were conducted during the construction of the tomb.

Based on these discoveries, the excavation research team believes that Tomb No. 3 went beyond serving as a mortuary facility and functioned as a monumental space representing political authority and religious or ceremonial culture.

The achievements of this excavation further reinforce scholarly evidence that Gochang was the center of the Morobiri State, known to have been a powerful Mahan political entity. The materials provide comprehensive insights not only into mound construction techniques but also into the social organization and ritual culture of the period, attracting significant academic attention.

Oh Misook, Director of Tourism and Welfare at Gochang County, stated, "We will thoroughly analyze the findings from this excavation to utilize them in refining the academic understanding of the Bongdeok-ri Tumuli and in developing historical and cultural spaces, striving to pass on the region's historical and cultural heritage to future generations."

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