Publication of Oral History Book for the 50th Anniversary of the 2023 Excavation,
The scene of collecting a horseriding painting at the Cheonmachong excavation site in August 1973. Photo provided by the National Heritage Administration,
, ‘[Seoul Economy] ‘,
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, “The Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage announced on the 14th that it has published an oral history book titled ‘The Story of Cheonmachong on That Day’ following a symposium held in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cheonmachong excavation.”,
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, “Cheonmachong is an ancient Silla tomb believed to belong to a Maripgan or a member of the Maripgan family, located in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju. It was excavated in 1973 as part of the ‘Gyeongju Comprehensive Tourism Development Plan’ initiated in 1971 and garnered attention for its findings, including the mysterious Cheonmado horseriding painting (officially recognized as National Treasure ‘Gyeongju Cheonmachong Jangni Cheonmado’), as well as the Silla crown, golden belt, and 11,526 other artifacts.”,
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, “The oral history book contains stories shared during the symposium by participants such as Ji Keon-gil, former director of the National Museum of Korea, Choi Byung-hyun, an emeritus professor at Soongsil University, Seong-ok So, Yoon Geun-il, former director of the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, and Nam Si-jin, director of the Gyerim Cultural Heritage Institute. It vividly describes the events, such as the commencement of the Cheonmachong excavation ritual on April 6, 1973, the discovery moments of major artifacts like the crown and horse paintings, and offers a glimpse into behind-the-scenes stories like the yellow hats worn by researchers, the wages of laborers, media competition at the time, and photographs capturing the historical excavation site. Professor Choi Byung-hyun commented, ‘The Cheonmachong excavation initiated my research on Silla tombs, marking the beginning and foundation of my academic career.’ The book will be distributed to public libraries, research institutions, and educational organizations.”