Daegu Bullo-dong Ancient Tombs

The Bullo-dong Ancient Tombs, the first tombs in the country to be designated as a cultural property, consist of about 200 large and small tombs. They are located along the Geumho River and are distributed on the eastern hill at the point where the road from Bullo-dong to Palgongsan meets the Gyeongbu Expressway. The tombs typically have a diameter of 15–20m and a height of 4–7m. Their internal structure features a rectangular stone chamber built with river stones or broken stones on four walls, covered with flat and wide stones as a lid, with gravel placed on top and then covered with earth. Many artifacts have been excavated, including gold or gilt-bronze ornaments, iron weapons, and pottery with patterns. These tombs are believed to have been built around the 5th century during the Three Kingdoms period and are presumed to be collective tombs of the indigenous ruling forces that dominated this area.

The Bullo-dong Ancient Tombs best preserve the external form among existing tombs in the Daegu area and are densely concentrated in a small area, offering a glimpse into ancient society. They also serve as valuable evidence that similar power groups were scattered in places like Naedang-dong, Bisandong, and Bullo-dong within the Daegu basin. The location of the Bullo-dong tombs on hills, the internal construction using broken stones similar to stone mound tombs, and the excessively narrow and long stone chambers indicate a connection to the mid-Nakdong River region. However, the shape and quality of the artifacts resemble those of Silla, revealing the complex cultural aspects of the local powers.