Newly discovered Silla-era tomb in Gyeongju yields armor, crown, human remains

The excavation site of the newly unearthed Hwangnam-dong wooden chamber tomb, which dates back to the fourth or fifth century, in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Yonhap

Archaeologists in the city of Gyeongju, once the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE), have uncovered a wooden-chamber tomb beneath a major burial mound that is emblematic of burials for the era's elites.

The discovery in Hwangnam-dong of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province includes human remains buried with a full set of armor and a helmet, along with earthenware, fragments of a gilt-bronze crown and protective gear for a horse.

Gyeongju will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and the city government of Gyeongju held a joint press conference at the site Monday, announcing that a wooden-chamber burial had been found, located beneath the previously excavated Hwangnam-dong No. 120 mound site, which consists of a stone-mound wooden-chamber tomb.

"The area had been damaged by farming, but we have been steadily excavating the site since 2018," an official from the Silla Cultural Heritage Research Institute, a foundation established by the local city government, said. "Six wooden-chamber tombs have newly been confirmed below the No. 120 mound, and a detailed study is now under way on the first of them."

Teeth found in the main chamber of the mound are on display, and can be viewed by the public during the APEC summit. Yonhap

Inside the chamber, researchers found the remains of a man buried with an iron sword, thought to have been a Silla commander or noble, along with another skeleton believed to be his attendant, who may have been sacrificially interred with him.

Preliminary analysis of the teeth suggest that the primary figure interred in the chamber was in his early 30s at the time of death. The attendant's femur and humerus lengths indicate a height of about 160 to 165 centimeters, making it "the first case in which a fully preserved skeleton of a sacrificial body has been confirmed in Silla-period archaeology," according to the institute.

Armor and helmet sets for a human and a horse were also discovered in remarkable condition, becoming only the second instance of horse armor found in a Silla tomb following the Joksaem C10 mound discovery, also in Gyeongju. Scholars say the find substantiates historical accounts of "heavily armored cavalry," and "highlights the Silla aristocracy's military might during the fifth century."

Among the artifacts, a fragment of a gilt-bronze crown drew particular attention. Believed to be the oldest of its kind yet unearthed, the piece could reshape understanding of Silla metalwork.

Armor and helmet sets for a human and a horse were also discovered in remarkable condition, becoming only the second instance of horse armor found in a Silla tomb following the Joksaem C10 mound discovery in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Yonhap

Archaeologists noted that the tomb's mixed architectural features, consisting of a wooden chamber underneath a stone-covered wooden structure, offer physical evidence of a cultural transition in burial customs during the Silla kingdoms.

"This discovery goes beyond adding one more tomb to the map," a KHS official said. "It provides a clue to understanding the evolution of Silla tomb construction and even the kingdom's political and social organization."

The excavation site will open to the public from Oct. 27 through Nov. 1, coinciding with the 2025 APEC summit. Visitors will also be able to view key relics, including the remains, crown fragment, armor and helmets, at the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in Gyeongju.

Wrapping up Monday's briefing, KHS expressed hope that the viewing will elevate global appreciation for Korea's cultural heritage.

"As the host city of the 2025 APEC summit, Gyeongju will showcase diverse aspects of our national heritage," KHS administrator Huh Min said. "We aim to share the value of Korea's cultural legacy with the world while ensuring systematic preservation and visitor safety."

The excavation site of the newly unearthed Hwangnam-dong wooden chamber tomb, which dates back to the fourth or fifth century, in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Yonhap