A Study on the Types and Development of Arms Excavated from Daegaya Tumuli

Abstract

In this study, we will review the armament excavated from the ancient tombs of the opposition camp to see the process of making weapons and changing the aspect of the armor found in the central and neighboring communities. The weapons excavated from the ancient tombs of the main opposition camp were identified as having undergone four major phase changes, and the types of armament were divided into A-F types, which are based on common weapons and harnesses. Based on this, each region has the following aspects of the shift in armament. In step 1, arms started to be adopted in the region of Daegaya, and Okjeon group was the first. In the territory of Okjeon group, decorative cavalry arms (types A1 and A2), heavy cavalry (type B1), and light cavalry (type D) have been found unexpectedly. The types of cavalry recruited first in the regions of Gimhae and Busan show that these types were introduced in Okjeon region earlier than other territories of Daegaya. Step 2 is the period of the development of cavalry and infantry arms mainly by the central group of Daegaya region. Cavalry arms that were first introduced in Okjeon group started to be spread from the central group of Daegaya with infantry. It was found that decorative harness and heavy cavalry arms (types A and B) were used mainly by supreme rulers in Daegaya. In step 3, the decorative harness and light cavalry arms popular in the central area of Daegaya were spread to the upstream of Hwanggang River which was under the direct control of Daegaya and the middle/upstream of Gyeonghogang River. As in step 2, the central area of Daegaya remained focused on light cavalry and helmets although there were some old tomb tumuli and decorative harness as well while the surrounding areas showed somewhat different conditions.