A Test of Increasing Warfare in the Samguk Sagi Against the Archaeological Remains in Yongnam, South Korea

This paper presents a case study of how a monocausative factor, warfare, played a critical role in the course of the formation of the Silla Kingdom between the first and fifth centuries AD. Extant Korean historical documents are used as the source to acquire a general historical background on the ancient Korean Three Kingdoms. The archaeological manifestation of warfare is examined. In particular, a great deal of bronze and iron weapons excavated from burials in southeastern Korea were quantified and analyzed in conjunction with data on hostilities mentioned in the historical documents. The results of statistical analysis on weaponry artifacts that probably were used in battles strongly support the premise that warfare was a key factor for the state formation process of the Silla Kingdom. This paper will make a contribution to understanding the importance of the warfare hypothesis for the interpretation of state formation in Korea specifically and in many parts of the world generally.