Ancient Korean DNA Reveals Existence of Sacrificial Caste

A genomic analysis of ancient skeletons from the Korean Peninsula has revealed that a specific sacrificial caste existed in early Korean society, where entire families were killed to honor local royalty. The findings, published April 10, 2026, in the journal Science Advances, provide scientific evidence of the social structures and kinship systems present during the Three Kingdoms period.

The study focused on 78 individuals whose DNA was sequenced from 44 tombs at the Imdang-Joyeong burial complex in Gyeongsan, located in the southeast region of the Korean Peninsula. This burial complex was constructed between the fourth and sixth centuries and is believed to contain the graves of local ruling families descended from Abdok, a polity that was incorporated into the Silla kingdom around the fourth century.

Evidence of Sunjang and Sacrificial Castes

Researchers identified evidence of sunjang, a burial practice where servants or retainers were sacrificed and interred alongside the deceased elite. The genomic data suggests that this practice was not limited to individual servants but may have claimed entire households.

The analysis identified at least 20 two-chambered tombs that show evidence of this practice. These specific tomb structures typically featured a main chamber containing the grave owner and sacrificed individuals, as well as a subsidiary chamber reserved for additional sacrifices.

The study describes the discovery of a special sacrificial caste of people, indicating a rigid social stratification where certain groups were designated for these ritualistic killings.

Kinship Networks and Endogamy

Beyond the practice of human sacrifice, the genomic analysis revealed a dense kinship system characterized by high levels of inbreeding, known as endogamy. The research indicates that the society favored consanguineous marriages, which are unions between closely related individuals.

The DNA evidence points to a kinship network that was heavily focused on women and their descendants. This suggests that maternal lineages played a significant role in the social and familial organization of the ruling elite during the Silla era.

Research Methodology and Collaboration

The international research team was led by Jeong Choong-won, a professor of biological sciences at Seoul National University. The project was a collaborative effort involving researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, Sejong University, and the Yeungnam University Museum.

The Imdang-Joyeong burial complex, which was first excavated in 1982 and designated a historic site in 2011, has yielded significant archaeological data. To date, more than 1,600 tombs and the remains of at least 259 individuals have been uncovered at the site.

By analyzing genome-wide data, the scientists were able to move beyond historical records to find biological confirmation of the era’s customs. While historical records had previously suggested the practice of sunjang and the preference for marriage between relatives in the Silla kingdom, this study provides the first large-scale scientific evidence of these social structures.

Historical Context of the Three Kingdoms Period

The Three Kingdoms period occurred approximately between 57 B.C. And A.D. 668. The findings from the Gyeongsan site offer a window into the specific customs of the Silla kingdom, one of the three dominant powers of the era.

The presence of family-based sacrificial burials and close-kin marriage highlights a society with highly controlled reproductive and social hierarchies, where the status of the elite was maintained through both genetic isolation and the ritualized sacrifice of lower-status individuals.