They are the members of the archaeological excavation party of the Korean Central History Museum. They have so far unearthed lots of historical sites and relics while exploring high and low mountains, valleys and fields.
It was when they tried to excavate mural tombs dating back to Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668). In order to discover more Koguryo murals regarded as valuable cultural heritage, they went to Taesong District, Pyongyang, thinking that they might discover new Koguryo murals in the area where some Koguryo mural tombs had been already excavated.
They looked round every nook and corner of the area time and again. And they would repeat the survey of the places, which they previously did, on their backward journey. They did not ignore even a blade of grass and a single stone. In the course of this they discovered pieces of a mural.
At last they managed to find out another Koguryo mural tomb in Taesong-dong. Though there was not a mound and ceiling, pictures of four deities were painted on the walls of the tomb and all-gold accessories like a necklace were unearthed.
And one day they were informed that a resident in Thaesong-ri, Kangso District in Nampho City, discovered some painted pieces of stone. They soon embarked on the excavation. At last they unearthed a tomb that was confirmed as that of the 9th King Michon of Koguryo.
Once they searched Samsok District, Pyongyang, for more than ten days. But they could never get a clue. Having given up their plan, they decided to return. And they dropped in at a dwelling house to ask for some water to drink. When the elderly head of the house came out with a bowl of water, a member of the excavation party asked him, “Are there any unregistered historic sites and relics here in this area?”
The elderly man replied that there was something like a grave on the hill behind his house.
Soon they followed him to the place where they discovered a mural tomb on the east slope of the hill called Mt. Chongryong two kilometres northeast of the seat of Jangsuwon-dong. Though much of its mound had slid away, its shape remained intact. Its walls were seriously broken, but a picture of the mythological turtle—the one symbolizing the God of the North—drawn on the north wall was still in the original state.
In the course of arranging the floor, they found out lots of mural pieces and bier traces. Some murals from the period of Koguryo had been already unearthed in the area, including the Sasin (Four-Deity) Tomb in Honam-ri.
The excavation of the mural tomb considered to date back to the mid-5th century after Koguryo moved its capital to Pyongyang, made it possible to prove that the area is the place where Koguryo mural tombs are concentrated, and helped increase the archaeological data capable of disclosing how the pictures of four deities emerged and changed.
The excavation team also unearthed metal types in Manwoltae, Kaesong City, a site of a royal palace in the period of Koryo (918–1392). On the basis of the fact that a single metal type on display in the Korean Central History Museum had been discovered around the Manwoltae area by a boy in Kaesong, they surveyed the area and found out another metal type in 2015 and four more in 2016.
By surveying the South Gate of Kaesong in cooperation with the French School of Asian Studies, they clarified the city’s history of development. They are very glad and shed tears of pleasure when they unearthed even a little piece of ancient tile or porcelain.
They say, “Today or tomorrow is inconceivable apart from yesterday. We take greatest pride in providing materials of history which can show people wisdom and talent of our nation.”
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