Okjeon M6hobun Chulto Gold Earrings, Hapcheon

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2045

Category

Craft

Era

가야 6세기

Designated year

2019

Location

진주시, 경상남도— 경상남도 진주시 진주대로 501 (가좌동, 경상대학교) 경상대학교 박물관

Coordinates

No precise coordinates are available, so this item is not shown as a map marker. To be added later.

The pair of gold earrings originating from Tomb M6, Okjeon Tumuli in Hapcheon was excavated by a team from the Gyeongsang National University Museum during a survey conducted in 1991 and 1992. The earrings were found near the head of the tomb’s occupant in the south of the wooden chamber. Tomb M6, which is a mid-sized burial, is assumed to be the tomb of a ruler judging by the many precious artifacts discovered there, including a jeweled crown, necklaces, earrings, a sword with round pommel, a quiver, and decorated horse harness among others. It is considered a valuable archaeological find in view of its origin, the magnificent relics excavated with it, and the superb handicraft skills, especially when compared to its Gaya counterparts adorned with gardenia seed-shaped pendants. The earrings consist of a thin round main link, a two-tiered middle ornament, hanging accessories, a metal link made of lattice-shaped cylindrical metal plate, and a “人”-shaped link with gardenia seed-shaped pendants and gold granules. They are particularly unique as they combine a Silla-style middle ornament with a gardenia seed-shaped accessory of Gaya, which is thought to be the result of exchanges between the people of Gaya and those of neighboring countries during the sixth century. Each earring displays slight differences in terms of their size and shape. Notably, the four beads attached to each of the tiers of the middle ornament are beautiful creations, while the lines engraved along the edge and the gold granules placed at the lower end of the gardenia seed-shaped pendants attest to the refined taste of Gaya craftsmen. Other earrings attached with gold granules have been found in the tumuli in District A, Gyeseong, Changnyeong; Tomb Nos. 44-11 and 45-1 in Jisan-dong, Goryeong; and Tomb M4 in Okjeon, Hapcheon, indicating that such a technique was widely used in Gaya.