2020

Two Koguryŏ Mural Tombs Excavated at Wŏlchi-ri in Anak Prefecture

A report issued by the Workers’ News (Rodong Sinmun) in the DPRK on 1 September 2020 announced the excavation of two mural tombs of the Koguryŏ period at Wŏlchi-ri in Anak Prefecture, South Hwanghae Province (coordinates of Wŏlchi-ri: 38.476035 125.394490). Excavations were carried out by the Archaeological Research Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Both tombs consist of stone chambers with corbelled ceilings covered with a mound of earth. They have entry corridors that open on their south sides. Both tombs had long ago been looted, but they nevertheless yielded fragments of wall murals and one of them still preserved a few gold artifacts.

The first tomb has a ceiling composed of three layers of parallel corbels, upon which are two layers of triangular corbels, topped with a large capstone. The walls of the tomb chamber were coated with white plaster, upon which murals were painted. The corners of the chamber feature paintings of columns and brackets, while elsewhere were paintings of the four spirits of the cardinal directions, lotus and cloud patterns, turtle-shell patterns and trees, as well as constellations.

The second tomb is similar to the first, but most of its murals had fallen from the walls, surviving fragments showing patterns interpreted as representing the sun. In this tomb excavators uncovered nine gold ornaments, which include a gold earring, three floral-shaped ornaments, a tear-shaped pendant, and four smaller ornamental objects.

Excavators determined that both tombs were constructed in the first half of the sixth century and interpreted the find as confirmation that the Anak region had served as an important administrative center of Koguryŏ in that period.

Report by Mark E. Byington

Link to North Korean report: http://www.ryomyong.com/index.php?page=north&no=46919

Link to report in Chinese media: http://www.kgzg.cn/a/396334.html

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