The Development Process and Significance of Ancient Tombs in Yeongcheon Area.

The Yeongcheon area is situated on a crucial transit route connecting Gyeongju to the inland, and archaeological data indicate the existence of influential political groups there since the mid-1st century BCE. To date, research has mainly focused on regional polities during the wooden coffin tomb period and on the pottery excavated from Yeongcheon tombs, which resembles the Gyeongju style, leaving the broader local history of Yeongcheon relatively unexplored. This paper aims to analyze the development of the Yeongcheon tomb culture and its significance by focusing on three key sites where wooden chamber tombs, stone-lined pit tombs, and stone-mound wooden-chamber tombs were constructed. The Cheongjeong-ri site is located on the transit route linking Gyeongju and Yeongcheon, with wooden chamber tombs constructed from the mid-4th century. The Hwanam-ri site is situated at the border of Yeongcheon and Gunwi, where stone-lined pit tombs were constructed from the early 5th century, and Gyeongju-style artifacts, including a gilt-bronze crown and military equipment, were interred. Records in the Samguk Sagi indicate that the Yeongcheon area was incorporated into Silla early on. The Hwanam-ri site, characterized by the burial of weaponry, played a crucial role in defending major transportation routes leading into the Yeongnam inland region. However, its strategic importance for defense diminished after the mid-to-late century as the Uiseong area was subsequently incorporated into Silla. In the late 5th century, large-scale stone-mound wooden-chamber tombs were established at the Wansan-dong Tomb Site, located in the center of Yeongcheon. Furthermore, based on the record of Golhwaseong Fortress construction in the Samguk Sagi, it is determined that the Yeongcheon area was fully integrated into Silla's centralized system during this period.