Researchers Believe Humans Were Sacrificed as 'Part of a Ritual' for Safe Construction of Ancient Korean Palace

In 2021, archaeologists found remains from South Korea, that they believed were a specimen of human sacrifice. The remains were located at the Wolseong Palace excavation site in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, stated The Korea Times. The victim seemed to be a woman from the lower strata of society as per the undertaken analysis. The examination was done by the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (GNRICH).

Researchers have been excavating Wolseong Place since 2014. Before the 2021 discovery, experts had uncovered around 20 sets of human remains. None of them had been determined as human sacrifice, because of lack of evidence. The woman's remains were found in the same area where the bodies of two other individuals were discovered five years ago. They were located in a section built close to the main wall of the rampart. Researchers believe the individuals were buried for a particular objective. "Based on the fact that they are located near the main entrance and along with the selected bones of animals as if protecting the wall, we could assume that they were buried as part of a ritual for the safe construction of the architecture," Jang Gi-myung, a researcher at GNRICH explained.

In 2017, when researchers found two bodies belonging to a man and a woman in their 50s, they speculated that the individuals could be victims of the Silla tradition of human sacrifice, stated Smithsonian Magazine. However, due to insufficient proof, researchers could not verify their claim. The discovery of the woman in 2021 backed their assertion. The 2021 finding was in her 20s, and like the previous two showed signs of malnutrition. She was estimated to be undersized, standing at just 4 feet 5 inches tall. At first, experts thought she was a young girl, due to her height, but later they uncovered that the woman's growth plates had gotten closed. 

Considering the condition of the skeletons, experts concluded that all three were from lower-ranking class. None of the three showed any indication of struggles. The young woman was found sporting ornaments like bracelets and a necklace. Researchers noted that the latter was made out of comma-shaped gogok glass beads. The team also spotted animal remains, near the skeleton. Experts stated that the woman was buried alongside an earthen vase, which was possibly used for drinking during the sacrifice. In 2017, researchers located pottery remains close to the two skeletons, which could have also been used for the same purpose. 

The ornaments and animal remains solidified for researchers that all three were human sacrifices. "Now with the additional discovery, there’s no denying Silla’s practice of human sacrifice," shared Choi Byung-heon, an archaeologist at Soongsil University. "… After finishing off the foundation and moving onto the next step of building the fortress, I guess it was necessary to really harden the ground for the fortress to stand strong. In that process, …the Silla people held sacrificial rites, giving not only animals but also humans as sacrifices," she added.

Apart from the revelation of human sacrifices, experts have also uncovered the method by which the palace was constructed. "We’ve discovered the method of building Wolseong, which mainly used soil," Ahn So-yeon, a researcher from GNRICH said. "We’ve discovered how Silla people mixed stones, pieces of wood, seeds of fruits, and grains with soil to make the fortress stronger."