Innovation or Deviation in Traditions : Centered on Silla Tombs

The study of graves is a field in which traditionalism, conservatism, systemicity, etc., are most emphasized among various fields of archaeological research. The fundamental work of the study on graves is mainly concerned with identifying the form and systemicity through the structure of graves and excavated relics. As a result, cases that diverge from such research ARE categorized and evaluated as special cases, causing difficulty in their interpretations. This paper was written to diversify recognition, discussing how unconventional graves should be evaluated and understood. The objective is to understand whether an untraditional grave is an innovation, a deviation, or just another form. A review was attempted on 5 types of graves considered unique among the Silla graves in which much research and investigation cases have accumulated. These graves are different in nature, either buried unconventionally or appeared out of the blue in a situation with unknown motives. Due to being excessively aware of the conservatism and systemicity of graves, they were only understood as special or unique cases, and a multifaceted approach could not be taken. It was emphasized that to overcome this, diversity and flexibility should be recognized as the characteristics of graves in addition to traditionalism and that a complex approach has to be fulfilled on the individuals related to the graves and the political and social environment at the time the graves were built, beyond the primary analysis of the structure and excavated relics.