Development and Characteristics of the Sogaya Multi-Chamber Tombs

Research on the multiple-chamber tombs of the Sogaya region has primarily focused on the classification of tomb forms and their evolution based on burial arrangements. However, such classifications, centered on arrangement or form, do not reflect the identities of the interred, leading to the assumption that these tombs were family or kinship graves. Multiple-chamber tombs consist of several burial pits that share a common burial space, necessitating a classification of each burial pit and an understanding of their compositional combinations. This study aims to categorize burial pits based on the identities of the interred to attempt a classification and typology of the tombs. In the Southern Gaya society, the practice of multiple-chamber tombs, in which several burial pits are arranged within a single mound, was widespread. Although the tombs of each regional group were constructed based on a common burial concept, they show diverse combinations of interred individuals, reflecting the distinctive characteristics of each group. This paper explores how the burial arrangements and their combinations reveal social and cultural identity through the lens of gender, kinship, and other factors.