This, according to a wonderful blog Gusts of Popular Feeling (via Dong A Ilbo):
“The armor of a heavily armed warrior from the Shilla Dynasty (57 B.C.–935 A.D.) and his horse buried 1,600 years ago have been discovered almost intact.
The Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage yesterday said the discovery was made in an ancient tomb with two coffins buried in the early fifth century at the Jjoksaem district of the Hwangohdong ancient tomb cluster (Historical Relic No. 41), which had around 150 Shilla tombs from the fourth to sixth centuries in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.”
The Silla dynasty in Korea is endlessly fascinating to me, a feeling reinforced the times I have traveled to Gyeongju, a beautiful city. The articles goes further to say:
“The warrior’s armor was placed above the trunk armor of the horse piece by piece – cuirass, back shield and leg protectors. A helmet along with neck and shoulder armor and arm protectors was discovered far west of the main coffin.
A sword with a ring end measuring 84 centimeters and a small knife made of deer horn were buried near the armor. In a separate container for burial accessories next to the main coffin, the helmet of the horse, saddle mould, a bit, stirrups, horse riding tools and pieces of earthenware were discovered. ”
If you like this kind of thing, this is brilliant. I am absolutely fascinated with archaeology of this sort, letting the past inform the present.