Gaya Tumuli Becomes Korea’s 16th UNESCO World Heritage

Gaya Tumuli holds the secrets of the lost Gaya civilization

Gaya Tumuli, which holds the secrets of the lost Gaya civilization, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the 16th Korean World Heritage Site.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee evaluated that the 600-year-old Gaya Tombs demonstrate the diversity of ancient civilizations in East Asia.

Gaya Tumuli, a series of seven tomb sites

The Gaya Tumuli is a series of seven tomb sites representing the ancient civilization of Gaya, which was distributed in the Yeongnam and Honam regions from the 1st century to the mid-6th century.

The seven tombs are Yugok-ri and Durak-ri tombs in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do; Jisan-dong tombs in Goryeong, Gyeongbuk-do; Daeseong-dong tombs in Gimhae, Gyeongnam; Malongsan tombs in Haman, Gyeongnam; Gyodong and Songhyeon-dong tombs in Changnyeong, Gyeongnam; Songhak-dong tombs in Goseong, Gyeongnam; and Okjeon tombs in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam.

How It Was Evaluated?

1. The World Heritage Committee evaluated that it’s a unique system that is autonomous and horizontal from its neighbors.

2. They have outstanding universal value as important evidence of the diversity of ancient civilizations in East Asia.

– Gaya refers to a group of small states that flourished around the banks of the Nakdong River from around the first century BCE to the mid-6th century CE, with the best known being Geumgwan-gaya and Daegaya.

– However, unlike their contemporaries, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, not much remains in the way of written records.

– For this reason, the Gaya Tomb is considered an important artifact that can restore the lost Gaya civilization.