The Character of the Occupant of Tomb No. 41 at Jjoksaem, Gyeongju

Tomb No. 41 in the Jjoksaem area of Gyeongju is a medium-sized wooden chamber tomb with a stone mound (jeoksokmokgwak-myo), as determined by its overall scale. This study analyzes the major artifacts excavated from Tomb No. 41 and compares them with those from large-scale burials, with the aim of inferring the social status and identity of the tomb occupant. Tomb No. 41 shares a typical burial assemblage with other wooden chamber tombs with stone mounds in the Wolseong North Burial Ground. At the same time, it displays several distinctive features, particularly in the assemblage of weapons, armor, and horse gear. These characteristics have the following implications. First, the presence of multiple sets of weapons and armor suggests that the occupant possessed a strong military identity. Notably, alongside ornate items, several sets of practical iron weapons, armor, and horse gear were also interred, implying that the individual may have actively participated in battle during their lifetime. Second, some of the weapons and armor represent the earliest known examples of their kind in the Gyeongju area in terms of relative chronology. This indicates that the tomb occupant had access to the most advanced military equipment of the period. Third, the manner in which the ornate sword was worn diverges from the standard pattern observed in other Silla tombs. This suggests that both the materials and styles of such swords, as well as the privilege of wearing them, were regulated by social hierarchy. During the Maripgan period, Silla society underwent major transformations, marked by the construction of large mounded tombs (jeoksokmokgwak-myo) and the inclusion of diverse grave goods. Of particular significance is the symbolic display of arms, first observed in the Southern Mound of Hwangnamdaechong Tomb, which distinguishes Silla both from earlier periods and from contemporaneous polities such as Gaya. The ceremonialization of military equipment likely reflects changes in the ruling structure and military system under Maripgan leadership. Within this context, the occupant of Jjoksaem Tomb No. 41, whose grave goods strongly emphasize a military character, can be interpreted as a high-ranking figure, possibly a member of the Silla royal family or an elite aristocrat entrusted with military authority in the polity’s ruling system.