The finding confirmed the folkloric testimonies about human sacrifice in the construction of buildings.
Construction sacrifice is one of the most common ancient forms of sacrifice.
In the construction of large structures e.g. bridge, gate or fortress – the victim was bricked up in the base of the building. As the victim could be an animal, but occasionally in buildings and detect human remains.
It is believed that this ritual was common throughout the world, its echoes have been preserved in myths and legends. According to the researchers folklore, the victim had to ensure the reliability of the construction.
The first known case of such burial on the territory of South Korea recently discovered beneath the walls of Walson in Gyeongju. Gyeongju was the capital of the early feudal Kingdom of Silla. The fortress was built in the I century ad, but further inside the walls from time to time erected new buildings.
Archaeologists discovered in the walls of the fortress two skeletons, pre-dated the V century BC with remains found wooden tablets, covered with signs and figures of animals and people. Commented specialist, National research Institute of cultural heritage Gyeongju Choi moon young: “This is the first [in Korea] archaeological evidence that the folklore stories about the people who sacrificed in the construction of buildings, dams and walls, was truthful.”
For Korea this is the first find of this kind, however, in other countries, such evidence existed before. For example, in excavations of Chinese Neolithic settlements of the World in 2013 found around 80 female skulls. Scientists suggest that the remains could be used in the construction rituals. It is noteworthy that Korean finding is much closer to the present.
It is widely known about the existence of Korea in ancient burial practices of the servants, together with the high officials (the practice of sunjang). It was banned in 502 BC Find in the fortress Walson demonstrates the other side of the custom of human sacrifice in the history of Korea.
Scientists are going to investigate DNA preserved in human remains to learn more about genetics, physical condition and diet of the victims. New Zealand earlier anthropologists believed that human sacrifice could become the basis of a complex of social relations that led to the emergence of modern societies.
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