Tunnel-Shaped Tombs Discovered In Gonju City

Tunnel-Shaped Tombs Discovered In Gonju City. April. 23, 2004 21:56. by Chae-Hyun Kwon confetti@donga.com.

The discovery of a group of tombs is expected to play a key role in examining the relationship between the ancient kingdom of Paeche and Japan. The Chungcheong Cultural Properties Research Institute reported that fifteen tunnel-shaped tombs were unearthed on a mountain at a road construction site in Gonju City, Chungnam Province.

A tunnel-shaped tomb is created from a hole in a weathered solid foundation of granite that curves to the side. The curved hole extends for about two meters to make a chamber in the tomb. The final step in the process is fitting a stone lid to cover the entrance of the hole. This style of a tomb started from Kyushu in Japan and had been in fashion until eighth century. Tens of thousands of these tombs have been found in Japan, but relatively few in Korea.

Because earthen vessels, which were produced from the end of the fifth century to the beginning of the sixth century, were found in the chambers, experts presume most of the tombs were made during the ages of King Dongsung and Moonyung. As this is even earlier than the period when the tombs appeared in Japan, there is also the possibility the origin of the tombs was Paeche.

The Korean academic world expects this excavation will play a key role in uncovering ancient secrets of Korea-Japan history.