Jang Ki-myeong
Researcher, Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage
“Study on the Evolution of the Silla Palace Fortress System” is a comprehensive research project aimed at the restoration and utilization of Silla’s royal fortress. The project encompasses the excavation of Wolseong, interdisciplinary research, restoration and maintenance, and public engagement. Launched in 2015, the project established a mid- to long-term master plan and devised a phased, systematic implementation strategy.
To achieve integrated results, the project incorporates archaeological excavations, historical research, paleoenvironmental analysis, architectural conservation and restoration, public briefings, special exhibitions, and mobile cultural heritage education programs.
Wolseong Royal Fortress Revealed through Excavation
Based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys, the Wolseong excavation area was divided into Zones A to D, allowing for systematic and detailed investigations. In Zone A, excavations focused on the southern fortress wall and settlement remains from the Saro-guk period. Zone C was opened to uncover the inner palace structures, with excavations targeting building sites.
According to historical records, “In the spring of the 22nd year of King Pasa (101 AD), a fortress was built and named Wolseong. That July, the king moved into the fortress.”
However, excavation results indicate that the stone fortress walls were constructed in the mid- to late 4th century. Cultural layers and settlement remains suggest the site had already been occupied as early as the early 3rd century.
One structure from the Saro-guk period found in Zone A was initially used as a residence and later converted into a ritual site, after which it was burned. Excavation revealed the sacrificial remains of two dogs, a ring-pommel sword, crystal ornaments, yellow hemp textiles, and over 30 pottery items. This type of 3rd-century ritual is not documented in historical texts and is especially notable for having occurred near the entrance of a newly developed settlement in a relatively remote area. Investigations in Zone C, focused on the inner palace, have so far uncovered eight building sites, ten wall remains, one square structure, and one tile pile from the Unified Silla cultural layer. The building sites at the uppermost layers show signs of overlapping construction and are classified chronologically into three phases: early Unified Silla expansion, mid- to late 8th-century reconstruction, and eventual abandonment.
In terms of layout, the buildings are believed to have been divided spatially, with the central building complex reported in 2021 and the southeastern complex currently under excavation separated by walls.
2. 3rd-century settlement remains beneath the southern wall in Zone A
3. Ritual structure near the settlement entrance
4. Context of the ritual structure
Interdisciplinary Research to Reconstruct the Ancient Environment of Silla’s Capital
The Wolseong project is applying interdisciplinary research methods to reconstruct the climate and lifestyle of the Silla period. A large quantity of wooden artifacts has been excavated from the Wolseong moat, providing insight into climate fluctuations from 1,500 years ago. By comparing these
ancient woods with native trees currently growing in the Gyeongju region, researchers have confirmed the possibility of paleoclimate reconstruction.
These findings also show similar trends to climate changes across Asia, and precipitation changes during the moat’s construction period have helped identify climate events such as droughts.
More recently, empirical reconstructions of life in the Silla royal capital have been pursued through the analysis of parasites, pollen, and other remains uncovered during investigations in Gyeongju. There is growing evidence of a potential organic connection between parasites found in moat soil, diseases described in historical records, and environmental changes such as deforestation. Changes in forest conditions associated with the development of the royal capital, as described in historical texts, are also being confirmed through pollen analysis, highlighting the need for systematic sample collection to support further research on the urban and ecological environment surrounding the royal palace.
Wolseong Public Engagement and Education Programs with Citizens Wolseong’s public outreach and education programs include: ① Daedam Silla: Talking Silla Face-to-Face, ② Wolseong, Palace of Light night event, ③ Humanities Lectures, ④ Dig with Wolseong Classroom, and ⑤ Summer Excavation Camp. Daedam Silla is a tea-time talk concert held in the evening, where Gyeongju citizens gather to share stories about Silla’s history and cultural heritage.
Wolseong, Palace of Light is a two-day event at the excavation site featuring a variety of hands-on programs. The Humanities Lectures invite prominent speakers to deliver six cultural heritage talks each year. The Dig with Wolseong Classroom promotes the site’s research achievements using board games and 3D puzzles developed in-house by the outreach and education team.
Recently, Wolseong-themed learning kits have become a hit with the public.
6. “Dig with Wolseong” Excavation Classroom
7. Summer Excavation Camp
The “Time Travel to Wolseong” board game allows players to move their pieces according to dice rolls and learn about various Wolseong relics by reading brief explanations written on the board. The “Build Your Own Wolseong Moat” 3D puzzle helps players understand the evolution of Wolseong’s northern moat—originally a defensive structure—along with excavated artifacts and environmental context, all through interactive play.
In 2024, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Wolseong Project, Lee Jaesung, Korea’s national soccer team No. 10, was appointed as Wolseong’s ambassador.
Wolseong was once known as Jaeseong (在城) during the Silla period, a name that shares the exact same Chinese characters as Lee Jae-sung’s own.
To mark the occasion and his 10th career anniversary, a fan signing event with Gyeongju citizens was held at Wolseong.
9. National Football Team Player Lee Jae-sung Appointed as an Ambassador
Published Papers and Conference Presentations
[KCI-Indexed Journals]
- Jang Ki-myeong, “The Emergence of Early Polities in the Yeongnam Region and the Structure of Saroguk,”Journal of Korean Ancient History, No. 123.
- Kim Da-som & Kim Heon-seok, “An Examination of Animal Remains Excavated from a Unified Silla Workshop Site in Gyeongju,”Archaeological Plaza, No. 35.
- Ahn So-hyeon, “Urban Environments of Ancient Cities Through Microfauna and Flora: Focusing on the Silla Royal Capital,” Journal of Korean Ancient History, No. 126.
- Nam Tae-gwang, “A Study on the Wooden Bank Structures of the Wolseong Moat,”Silla Culture, No. 65.
[Overseas Conference Presentations]
- Kim Heon-seok, “A Study on the Dismantling and Disposal Patterns of Animal Remains Excavated from the Unified Silla Period in the Gyeongju Area,”The 21st Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists.
- Ji Yeong-bae, “New Cases of Human Sacrifice Ceremony on Silla Palace, the Wolseong Fortress Site, South Korea,”Art, Myth and Ritual: Comparison on Early China and Mesoamerica.