부산 복천동고분군은 4~5세기를 중심연대로 하는 삼국시대 무덤으로 종장판갑이 다량 출토한 고분군으로 널리 알려져 있다.
2006년 복천동 고분 구릉의 동쪽 사면 말단부에 축조된 164·165호분에서 종장판갑 2령이 추가로 조사되었다. 본고에서는보존처리가 완료된 종장판갑 2령의 내용을 정리하고, 기존 종장판갑 부장 유구와의 비교검토를 통해 4세기대 종장판갑 부장양상에 대해 살펴보았다.
164·165호에서 출토된 종장판갑은 제작기술 속성을 기준으로 Ⅱa형식(型式)인 경주·울산식 판갑으로 분류되며, 종장판갑편년 3단계 중 Ⅱ단계의 이른 시점으로 편년된다. 부장양상을 살펴보면, 동단계에 속하는 구릉 정상부의 대형분에서는 종장판갑이 2령 이상 복수로 부장되지만, 164·165호에서는 1령씩 단수 부장된다. 따라서 복천동에서 경주·울산식 판갑(Ⅰ·Ⅱa식)이 부장되는 단계에는 분묘의 규모에 따라 부장되는 종장판갑의 수량에 격차가 있음을 알 수 있다.
종장판갑은 지금까지 복천동 고분 구릉 정상부에 위치한 대형무덤에 부장되고 있어 상위계층의 전유물로 생각되어 왔지만,164·165호분과 같이 무덤의 입지, 규모, 부장유물의 양과 질적인 면에서 중소형분에 속하는 분묘에서도 종장판갑이 부장된사실이 확인되었다. 164호분은 장단축비가 1:3 이상인 세장방형 목곽묘로 갑옷 및 유구의 형태, 부장유물의 배치 상태 등에서경주 구정동 3호분, 사라리 55호분 등과 같은 소위 경주식 목곽묘로 볼 수 있다. 반면 부장 토기의 양상은 소위 금관가야식 토기라 불리는 김해지역 토기와 공통되는 점이 주목된다.
4세기대 복천동고분군에서는 분묘의 입지, 규모, 종장판갑의 부장 수량 등에서 분묘간의 격차가 확인된다. 하지만 종장판갑의부장유무만으로 분묘간의 계층성을 논하기 어려우며, 종장판갑의 부장이 곧 군사력의 장악을 상징하는 것으로 해석하기는 곤란하다. 164호분의 양상에서는 판갑 부장의 지역성, 복천동 분묘의 계층성에 대해 유추해 볼 수 있다.
The ancient tombs found in Bokcheon-dong, Busan originate from the time between the 4th and 5th centuries, the period of the Three Nations. They are known as the tombs where the Vertical Plate Armour was mainly buried. In 2006,two units of the Vertical Plate Armour were additionally investigated in the tombs No.164 and No.165 which had been constructed at the end of the eastern slope near the hill of the group of ancient tombs in Bokcheon-dong. Throughout this study, the contents of the two units of the Vertical Plate Armour, whose preservation process has been completed,have been arranged, while the group of constructed ancient tombs in Bokcheon-dong from the 4th century has been observed through the consideration of the burial pattern.
The units of the Vertical Plate Armour from the tombs No.164 and No.165 can be classified as the IIa-typed armor showing the Gyeongju and Ulsan patterns, according to the attribute of the manufacturing technology. Also, they can be chronologically recorded as those from the early period of Stage II among the three stages regarding the chronological recording of the Vertical Plate Armour. While more than two units of the Vertical Plate Armour were buried in the largesized tomb on the top of the hill of the group of ancient tombs, one unit of the Vertical Plate Armour was buried in the small-sized tomb. By considering such a trend, it can be said that in the stage of burying the armor showing the Gyeongju and Ulsan patterns (I-type and Ⅱa-type), different units of the Vertical Plate Armour were buried according to the size of the tomb. However, as the armor showing the Busan pattern (Ⅱb-type) was settled, only one unit was buried.
Meanwhile, the tombs No.164 and No.165 can be included in the wooden chamber tomb showing the Gyeongju pattern, which is a slender rectangular wooden chamber tomb with the aspect ratio of more than 1:3. However,according to the trend shown by the buried earthenware, it can be said that there seem to be common types and patterns shared with the earthenware which has been found in the area of Gimhae and is called the one showing the Geumgwan Gaya pattern. In other words, there seem to be close relationships between the subject tombs and the tomb No.3 in Gujeong-dong and the tomb No.55 in Sara-ri, Gyeongju, regarding the types of armor and tombs and the arrangement of buried artifacts. However, the buried earthenware shows a relationship with the areas of Busan and Gimhae. By considering the combined trend of the Gyeongju and Gimhae elements found in one tomb, it is possible to assume that the group of constructed ancient tombs in Bokcheon-dong used to be actively related with both areas.
It has been thought that the Vertical Plate Armour used to be the exclusive property of the upper hierarchy until now,since it was buried in the large-sized tomb located on the top of the hill of the group of ancient tombs in Bokcheondong.
However, as shown in case of the tombs No.164 and No.165, it has been verified that the Vertical Plate Armour was also buried in the small-sized tomb in terms of such factors as locations, sizes, the amount of buried artifacts and the qualitative aspect. Therefore, it is impossible to discuss the hierarchical characteristic of the tomb just based on the buried units of the Vertical Plate Armour. Also, it is difficult to assume that armor used to symbolize the domination of the military forces. The hierarchical characteristic of the group of constructed ancient tombs in Bokcheon-dong from the 4th century can be verified according to the location and size of each tomb. As are sult, the re seem to be some differences regarding the buried units of the vertical plate armour. However, it would be necessary to carry out amore multilateral examination in order to find out whether the burial of the vertical plate armour could be regarded as the artifact which symbolizes the status or class of the deceased.
