Korea's only archaeological magazine that prioritizes human cultural heritage.

『Quarterly Korean Archaeology』 is the only archaeological magazine in Korea that puts human cultural heritage first, and its 69th issue has been published.
The cover photo of Issue No. 69 is Tomb M2 of the Jinju Wondang Ancient Tombs, which was excavated by the East Asia Cultural Heritage Research Institute. It is evaluated as the largest capstone among the Gaya ancient tombs excavated to date.
It is a large stone chamber burial mound with a diameter of 13.4 to 15.2 m and a height of 1.2 to 4.2 m, and the opening stone measuring 290 cm in length, 208 cm in width, and 30 cm in thickness is evaluated as important data that demonstrates the status of funeral and tomb construction methods at the time.
In addition, many metal artifacts, such as miniature ironware, crown rings, and gilt-bronze tomb accessories (photo of the artifact on the cover), along with earthenware such as tall cups and utensil stands, were excavated from inside the tomb, adding to its academic value.
In particular, the excavated gilt-bronze headdress has a stylistic connection with the artifacts excavated from the Neungsan-ri tombs in Buyeo and the Namchi-ri tombs in Namhae, and this is drawing attention as evidence of the active exchange between Gaya and Baekje at the time.
This is key evidence showing that the Wondang Tombs were a strategically important location on the inland transportation route connecting the southern coast and the Namgang River basin, and were a space strategically controlled by Sogaya and neighboring political powers.

The special feature article for Issue No. 69, titled “Characteristics and Significance of Foreign Artifacts Excavated from the Korean Peninsula,” features articles by Choi Young-joo (Department of History, Sunmoon University) titled “Current Status of Excavation and Research on Foreign Artifacts from the Three Kingdoms Period,” Jeong Hyeon-gwang (Duryu Cultural Research Institute) titled “Archaeological Significance of Foreign Artifacts Excavated from Gaya Tombs,” Kim Jun-sik (Gyeongnam Research Institute) titled “Silla’s Foreign Exchange and Silk Road Culture,” Shin Sook (Department of Intangible Heritage, Korea National University of Cultural Heritage) titled “Aesthetics of Light and Color: Foreign Materials and Decorations of Unified Silla,” and Lee Yong-jin (Department of Art History, Dongguk University) titled “Foreign Influences Visible in Crafts of the Goryeo Dynasty.”

Unearth Focus, which introduces recent excavation sites, includes the 〈Jeongeup Eunseon-ri and Dogye-ri Tombs〉 (Jeonju University Museum), where gold ornaments, Baekje-style pottery, and ironware were discovered; the 〈Yeongcheon Wansan-dong Tombs No. 1〉 (Gyerim Cultural Heritage Research Institute), where top-level artifacts such as a gilt-bronze crown were excavated; and the 〈Jinju Wondang Tombs No. M2 Excavation Survey〉 (East Asia Cultural Heritage Research Institute), where gilt-bronze artifacts proving exchange with Baekje were discovered.
The excavation results of the Yangpyeong Yanggang Island Stone Tomb (Giho Cultural Heritage Research Institute), which confirmed the existence of a multi-room stone tomb of the Three Kingdoms period, were introduced.


The ground exhibition introduced the special exhibition “Goheung Tombs, Opening the Door to Ancient Times” (Goheung Buncheong Culture Museum) which displayed relics excavated from Goheung tombs such as Andong and Yamak tombs, and the special exhibition “Clothes, Wearing Time” (Ewha Womans University Museum) which displayed traditional costumes from the Joseon Dynasty to modern times in one place. Special contributions included “Appreciating Western Art in the Middle Ages” by Choi Go-eun (guest reporter for this paper) on “Sublime Religious Paintings from the Age When Divinity Ruled Individual Life”, “Going to Eurasia” by Professor Kang In-wook (Department of History, Kyunghee University) on “A Vortex of History and Memory Encountered in Harbin, the Vast Plains of Manchuria”, “Film and Archaeology (10)” by film critic Oh Dong-jin on “Petra and Wadi Rum, From the Holy Land of Ruins to the Holy Land of Film”, and “A Walk in Seowon” by Jeong Yeo-chang and Namgyeseowon (?溪書院)〉 introduced the writings of Park Hong-gap (former head of the compilation department of the National Institute of Korean History).