Construction Processes and Functions of the Guam-dong Tomb Complex in Daegu: An Analysis Based on Construction Techniques

This paper synthesizes the excavation findings and existing research on the Guam-dong Tomb Complex in Daegu to examine construction techniques and structural characteristics by phase, reconstruct the construction process of individual tombs, and consider the complex's functional role over time. To this end, the tomb construction process was divided into three phases: site selection, main structure construction, and mound construction, with analysis of the construction techniques and structural features for each phase. The cluster's sites prioritized west-sloping ridges, with principal tombs positioned on the ridge's crest to project hierarchy through the contemporary landscape. The construction of the main burial chambers, arranged in an 11-character pattern reflecting collective identity, revealed that differences in scale, location, spacing, and composition were not explained by temporal linearity. Instead, they resulted from the complex interplay of political, hierarchical, genealogical, ritual, and construction conditions. Although the mound construction featured the unique characteristic of stone-piled burial mounds, it employed the earthen mound construction techniques typical of the period. This demonstrates the accumulation and reinterpretation of contemporary technology within the constraints of political scale. The completed tomb complex functioned as a ancestral burial site, closely linked to the administrative center and the main living quarters. It transcended a simple burial space, embodying the visual meaning of a collective power base and a visualized funeral space. Although this paper is limited to the Guam-dong Tomb Complex, the strategies inherent in the construction process present a universal context applicable to other contemporary tomb complexes.