Gyeongju Geumcheok-ri Ancient Tombs

About this place

These are Silla tombs located on the plain of Geumcheok-ri near Gyeongju, comprising about 30 large and small burial mounds. A local legend holds that Silla's founder Bak Hyeokgeose made about 40 false tombs to hide a golden ruler (geumja) he received from heaven, and that this golden ruler still lies buried here. Although no full-scale investigation has been conducted, two damaged tombs were examined in 1952. The internal structure is the stone-mound wooden-chamber tomb (jeokseok mokkwakbun) unique to Silla. Artifacts recovered include gold earrings and curved jade. These tombs are all smaller than the flatland tombs in central Gyeongju, suggesting they belonged to lower-ranking Silla aristocrats.