Korean archaeologists have new discoveries about Silla Kingdom

From 2017 to now, Korean archaeologists discovered 3 skeletons at the foot of the wall of Wolseong Palace, the ruins of Gyeongju, Silla (57 BC - 935 AD).

Through verification, they confirmed these were ancient inhabitants who were murdered for sacrificial purposes.

First dynasty

According to records from Samguk sagi - the oldest historical book in Korea, Silla was founded in 57 BC. However, "it didn't look like a kingdom until the fourth century," said Mark Byington, president of the Institute of Korean Studies (USA).

Gyeongju historical site and the location where the 3 sacrifice victims were discovered (circled).

In the years B.C.E., Silla was perhaps just the dominant force among groups of people who co-existed on the Korean peninsula. Thanks to their strong military force, they suppressed their opponents, becoming the leader.

After successfully unifying the territory, Silla began to build the kingdom and set Gyeongju as the capital. Here, they built the first system of palaces and walls - the capital Gyeongju.

Around 50-70 AD, Silla started the construction of Wolseong Palace. Most likely, this was the period that marked the beginning of the Silla Kingdom.

Wolseong is located on a hill, with the overall structure like a crescent moon, so it is also known as the Moon Palace. Also during the construction of Wolseong, Silla faced two great enemies: Baekje in the southwest and Goguryeo in the north. They formed the foot of the cauldron, creating the Three Kingdoms Period (Three Kingdoms Period).

Sacrificial Skeletons

The bones of a 50-year-old peasant couple at the foot of the castle wall of the Moon Palace.

In the 1980s, a pioneering team of Korean archaeologists excavated the ruins of the Moon Palace. They found human and animal bones. Silla history does not have any record of the custom of sacrificing living people to build the wall, so no researchers think this happened in the construction of Wolseong.

In 2017, another archaeological team selected a section of the wall of the Moon Palace about 36m long and 9m high, conducting excavation activities. They dug up 2 skeletons, 1 male and 1 female, lying side by side at the foot of the wall.

The results of the analysis of two skeletons showed that this was a peasant couple, aged 50. On the bones there were no signs of struggle and injury before death, suspected of dying from sacrifice.

Although Korean history books do not have any record of human sacrifice in construction, folklore has many scary stories. Accordingly, since the Silla period, rulers have sacrificed living people for the purpose of protecting the citadel, even the tomb.

The subjects chosen to be sacrificed were those from the lowest class in society. According to Samguk sagi, the Silla elite had always forced slaves to be buried alive in tombs, serving as slave spirits to protect coffins. It was so severe that, in 502, the reigning king had to issue a ban.

In early 2021, Korea has another shocking discovery at the Moon Palace. It was the bones of a young girl, buried just a few feet away from the farming couple.

In her hand, this girl still has a bracelet and on her head there is an earring, both made of glass. They were cheap trinkets, once favored by the poor ancient Silla people.

Donate people to build cities

The bones of the young girl, just a few steps away from the old farm couple.

The skeleton of a young girl at the foot of the castle wall of the Moon Palace reinforces the suspicion of the sacrifice of the fortress. After the overall observation, Korean archaeologists realized the special wall foundation structure.

It was designed to have space reserved for skeletons. It is predicted that 3 sacrifice victims were killed at the same time and placed in the foundation of the wall, with the purpose of praying for stability.

In the recess where the peasant couple was buried, there were several broken pieces of pottery. In the recess where the young girl is buried, there is an intact ceramic vase and a small bowl. Analysis of the bones and teeth of all three victims showed signs of nutritional deficiencies.

'We think they are just people from the lowest social class,' speculated archaeologist Jang Ki-myeong of the Gyeongju National Institute. After burying these three victims in the foundation, the Silla builders proceeded to build the wall.

Going back to the time when the construction of the Moon Palace was started, Silla was always in a state of being threatened by Baekje and Goguryeo. These are dangerous times for the newly formed nation. At any time, they are also likely to be attacked and devastated by the enemy.

As rulers, the Silla kings may have defied morality, doing everything for the sake of protecting the palace. They imitated the superstition of sacrificing wall builders from China, killing some people, and burying them in the wall's foundation.

In 2000, the entire historical site of Gyeongju, Korea was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. In addition to the Moon Palace, there are a total of about 7,000 communal houses, pagodas, tombs and other ancient architectural works. It preserves the history and artifacts of more than 1,000 years of the Silla Dynasty.