Artifacts Excavated from the Tombs, Goryeong (Presumed)

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.570

Category

Craft

Era

가야시대

Designated year

1973

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137 (용산동6가, 국립중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.536528, 126.996187

These relics are presumed to have been recovered from an ancient tomb in Goryeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. During the Three Kingdoms Period, Goryeong and its environs were the base of Daegaya, a city-state in the Gaya Confederacy. An illustrious ancient civilization, Daegaya flourished until it was conquered by Silla in 562 (the 23rd year of King Jinheung’s reign of Silla). Many Gaya tombs are found in clusters, in various places of Goryeong-eup, in particular, in Jisan-dong. This set of artifacts is of great significance for understanding the culture of Gaya. The artifacts fall into two large groups: 1. Artifacts I (1) Beads: These glass beads are indigo blue in color and have holes in them. (2) Stirrups: These stirrups each consist of an oblong loop where the rider’s foot is placed and a straight shaft above it, in a perpendicular position to it. They measure 24cm in height and 18cm in diameter. (3) Whetstone: With a rectangular cross section, this whetstone is decorated with silver at the head and measures 30cm in length. (4) Sword hilt: The hilt has fish scale-like motifs on the surface and a dragon-shaped ornament at the pommel. The hilt, in its current state, measures 33cm long. (5) Sheath ornament: This silver ornament attaches to a sheath near the locket. The sheath ornament is shaped like a large sword with a round loop-like section in the middle. (6) Sword hilt: This silver hilt ends in a loop shaped like the letter ‘D’ lying on its side. The loop encloses three leaves inside it. The loop hilt measures 26cm in length. (7) Sword hilt: The silver hilt has a triangular loop at the end that has no particular decoration. (8) Harness pendant: This ornamental pendant is hung from a horse’s loin by attaching it to the harness with a leather strap. The ornament is in the shape of an apricot leaf, and the surface has an embossed tree branch-like design which is held in place with several silver nails. The ornament is 10.5cm in height and 7.5cm in diameter. (9) Horse bell: The horse bell is shaped like a flattened cylinder with a base curved like a bow. The item is about 4.5cm in height. 2. Artifacts II (1) Harness ornament: The leaf-shaped ornament has a tree branch motif on the surface and measures 21cm in height and 12cm at its widest. (2) Saddlery strap ornament (unju): An unju is an ornament placed on a horse strap or at the intersection of two straps. This semilunar-shaped ornament has floral decorations at the center with six square metal plates distributed around the edge. The item measures 10.2㎝ at its widest diameter. (3) Saddlery strap ornament: This saddlery strap ornament in semilunar shape is decorated with floral motifs at the center, surrounded by four square metal plates. The item measures 7.2cm at its widest diameter. (4) Saddlery: The saddle consists of a semilunar-shaped silver plate with gold-plated trims, secured by nails. The surface is adorned with cloud motifs. A strap for tying the saddle to the girth is attached at the center. The item measures 18㎝ in length and 6cm in diameter. (5) Saddlery strap ornament and byeonghyeong: The saddlery strap ornament consists of a semilunar-shaped base and a leaf-shaped shaft mounted on top of it. The item is plated in gold, and the semilunar-shaped base measures about 2㎝ in diameter. (6) Hemispherical unju: This gold-plated ornament with no surface motifs is presumed to have had square metal plates attached around the edge. (7) Saddlery strap ornament with twelve square metal plates: This gold-plated saddlery strap ornament is adorned with floral design. The semilunar-shaped main plate is surrounded by twelve smaller plates that are square in shape. The item measures 10.5cm in diameter. (8) Harness ornament: This gold-plated harness ornament has embossed floral motifs on the surface. A design looking like three leaves is enclosed inside the beveled edge, and a rectangular shape with a bump in cubic shape above it is visible at the top center. The item measures 10.2㎝ in diameter. (9) Harness ornament with floral design: This is a gold-plated harness ornament with petal design inside its beveled edge. The item measures 10.2㎝ in diameter.

Location