[K-wave] New discoveries shed light on Silla royal palace

The National Heritage Service has unveiled key findings from a Silla royal capital excavation project, marking ten years since its launch.

By uncovering even the smallest historical details, the initiative has brought the story of the ancient Silla Dynasty to life.

Our Han Da-eun takes us through the remarkable discoveries.

This site was once a royal palace annex during the Silla Dynasty.

It housed "Donggung," the crown prince's residence, and also served as a venue for grand banquets during national celebrations.

The site was renamed from "Anapji" to "Donggung and Wolji" in the 1980s when pottery fragments inscribed with the letters "Wolji", meaning "pond reflecting the moon," were discovered.

Extensive excavation and restoration efforts have revived the site as one of Korea's most iconic historical landmarks over the past decade.

"The primary goal was to find and restore eight key relics of the Silla Dynasty and highlight their significance as a world heritage site."

Recent excavation initiatives have resolved the long-standing debate over the exact location of Silla's royal palace and the crown prince's residence, "Donggung." They also discovered the Silla Dynasty's advanced drainage systems, civil engineering methods, and fortification construction techniques, showcasing the remarkable architectural and engineering expertise of the era.

The latest excavation project also uncovered national treasure-level artifacts, including model wooden boats used in rituals, ivory dice, and ultra-small gold leaf crafts, which are thinner than a human hair.

"How could such tiny gold leaf crafts have been created in an era without even microscopes? It may sound exaggerated, but it almost seems like a mystery."

The heritage service plans to utilize unearthed artifacts in various ways to engage the public with Korea's historical gems.

It also pledged to promptly share the restoration process and its findings with the public.

Han Da-eun, Arirang News.