Ancient Tombs in Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong, Changnyeong (창녕 교동과 송현동 고분군)

Songhyeon-dong Ancient Tombs, located under Mokmasanseong Fortress at the west foot of Hwawangsan Mountain, are large ancient tombs located in the southwest by the road leading to Hyeonpung. The Gyo-dong Ancient Tombs are dozens of ancient tombs that were once gathered around a large royal tomb, which among only eight tombs with damaged mounds now remain. Some of these ancient tombs were excavated by the Japanese between 1918 and 1919, and most of the relics were moved to Japan, and only some of them remain in Korea. According to the results of the investigation at the time, the large tombs were either built in a passageway form or an entry gate form. It is said that a large number of relics such as jewelry made of various precious metals, including gold crowns, pure gold transplants, and copper, iron armour, and earthenware were excavated. The excavation report left by the Japanese is simple, so it is not possible to accurately grasp the structure of the Gyo-dong Ancient Tombs and the excavated relics. Twenty-one of the existing tombs have been restored so far, and only one of them has an accessible entrance. The tombs in Songhyeon-dong are largely divided into two areas. Area 1 used to be large tombs with 80 tombs west of the foot of Mokmasan Mountain, but now only about 16 tombs remain. It is said that there were about 20 tombs in the second area near the stone Buddha in Songhyeon-dong, but now most of them have turned into rice paddies, and only a few tombs reveal their original appearance. Since the tombs are close to the Gyo-dong tombs, the structure of the tomb and the nature of the relics are believed to be almost the same. Along with the Gyo-dong tombs, a large number of relics were excavated in 1918, but the whereabouts of some of the relics are unknown.