The outdoor exhibition showcases the original tombs of Gaya kings and nobles. Notice the three sections divided by white lines? The largest area was the earliest construction, followed by the two smaller sections to the right, built later. Despite its appearance, the overlapping style sparks significant debate in the interpretation of Gaya history.
The first section, dating back to the late 3rd century, was built for a Gaya king. It yielded numerous funerary relics, including two-handled vessels, iron ingots, and even artifacts from the northern peninsula, such as a bronze cauldron.
Moving to the second section, it comprises two chambers. The larger one served for burial, while the smaller was dedicated to housing funerary items like pottery. The question arises: why do these two tombs overlap? In ancient times, tombs, especially those of kings, were revered as sacred and rarely disturbed. Some historians believe that the owner of the second tomb possibly intended to violate the first tomb intentionally, possibly during an attack by the northern kingdom on Gaya. The invasion might have led to the desecration of existing Gaya king tombs.
Others speculate that the intrusion could have been accidental. A descendant of the king might have sought burial near their ancestor due to limited space in the area, given its long-standing tradition of royal burials.
No concrete historical records about these tombs have been uncovered, leaving the true reason for the overlap a mystery. What's your take on this puzzling aspect of history?
Outdoor Exhibition (Daeseong-dong Tomb Museum)
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