Beyond Migration: Reconsidering the Buyeo Origin Hypothesis through Steppe Elements in Gaya Tumuli

A new analysis of Gaya tumuli challenges the long-held Buyeo origin hypothesis, revealing that Northern-type material culture—such as bronze cauldrons and equestrian equipment—was not a direct result of Buyeo migration but rather an active selection and recombination by Gaya's ruling elite. The study finds that these elements, including Buyeo-Xianbei phase forms and Sanyan-phase artifacts, were strategically integrated into Gaya society, reflecting a broader East Asian interaction sphere rather than cultural transplantation. Notably, the absence of animal sacrifice in key tombs suggests these items served agricultural ceremonial purposes, indicating a functional shift from nomadic to sedentary contexts. This reinterpretation positions Buyeo not as Gaya's direct origin but as one of several reference models for how non-nomadic societies harnessed steppe prestige goods to consolidate political authority.

Han, J. (2026). Beyond Migration: Reconsidering the Buyeo Origin Hypothesis through Steppe Elements in Gaya Tumuli. The Paek-San Society, 134, 57–100. https://doi.org/10.52557/tpsh.2021.118.57