The Development of Mahan Tombs in the Mangyeong River Basin
Authors:   THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR THE MAHAN-BAEKJE CULTURE, Kim Jung Yeob 
Published: January 2024

Changes in the culture of Mahan tombs in the Mangyeonggang River basin can be divided into the period of prosperity of Jeokseok Wooden Tomb and the Tomb of the Tokwang (Mokgwan) Tomb related to the establishment of Mahan, the period of prosperity of the Bungu Tomb, and the period of traditional continuity of the Bungu Tomb after the Baekje Kingdom.
Jeokseokmokgwanmyo and Tokwangmyo were central tombs during the establishment of Mahan, and the distribution of numerous large-scale cluster Tokwangmyo in this area is also an active basis for showing that the Mangyeonggang River basin was the most important area and center in relation to the establishment of Mahan. It can be said that the influx of new groups and cultures played a major role in the region rather than the instrumental development of indigenous forces due to the formation of a new culture different from before.
Bungumyo is the central tomb of Mahan, which began to appear in the area when the earthenware tombs were prevalent and was used for a long time until the mid-6th century when it was replaced by a complete Baekje culture after the territorialization of Baekje. At first, it has an independent graveyard and emerges around the 2nd century B.C. in the form of a general, and gradually the connection of the main building and burial facilities change into a multi-section, and a series of changes occur through various types of expansion. However, depending on the region, there are differences in the multiple-place pattern centered on the burial subject and the non-burial subject, and in Iksan, regional features such as Wanju Sangun-ri and Jeonju Jangdong are not identified. In addition, in the southern region, starting with the Geumgang River, the appearance of a large-scale dedicated coffin is another characteristic of this region, as the pattern of the retaining tube is generally seen in the appearance of a large-scale dedicated coffin.
In addition, it is difficult to find an instrumental development process and succession from the culture of the Tokwang (woodwind) Tomb during the previous Mahan period. However, the culture of the tomb can also be seen as the emergence of a new culture, but in general, factors that can be examined for the connection with the culture of indigenous forces before the Tokwang(wooden) tomb culture are identifiedrather than the introduction and spread of culture at once. This is also a matter that needs to be studied more.
It is difficult to grasp the aspect of Mahan small country in the Mangyeonggang River basin area only with archaeological data of residential and tomb. However, hierarchies and hierarchies have been identified between remains in the earth mine (wooden) tomb stage during the Mahan establishment period, but it is still difficult to distinguish the territorial rights within the region during this period and to observe regional characteristics. It is believed that a full-fledged small Mahan-level political body will be possible in the stage of the prosperity of the tomb, where regional characteristics become clear. Considering the distribution patterns and characteristics of residential and tomb sites, it is estimated that the area can be divided into about 10 to 11 areas, which is somewhat similar to the county and prefecture units during the Baekje period.