gaya tumuli
states: [korea]
category: cultural
year: 2023
region: Asia and the Pacific
latitude/longitude: 35.2372638889, 128.8737250000
last visited: 2024
unesco id: 1666
world heritage site: 1666
The Gaya Tumuli, a UNESCO World Heritage site in South Korea, comprises seven clusters of ancient burial mounds across Gyeongsang Province, dating from the 1st to 6th centuries CE during the Gaya Confederacy. Recognized in 2023, these 35- to 65-meter-wide tumuli, built for elite rulers, feature stone-lined chambers and artifacts like gold jewelry and armor, reflecting Gaya’s sophisticated culture and trade networks. Set in urban and rural landscapes, they illustrate a distinct funerary tradition on the Korean Peninsula, bridging prehistoric and early state formation periods.
