• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.264-271
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• 2019

Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju, known as an astronomical observatory, is a cultural monument with great historical, academic, and artistic value, as its unique shape is preserved well in its original form. The outer structure, ground stability, and seismic reliability of Cheomseongdae have been assessed by numerous researchers through various scientific methods, but research on the underground structure has been insufficient. This paper contains detailed models of the underground structure of Cheomseongdae interpreted in 2D and 3D images based on the data acquired through GPR surveys conducted of features in and around the base of Cheomseongdae. As a result, the existence of twelve small features arranged in a circle, although only about half of them remain, was confirmed at a depth of 0.4 - 0.6m. Furthermore, a structure three bays long (north-south direction) and four bays wide (east-west direction) was detected beneath Cheomseongdae at the depth of 0.7 - 1.0m. Other than 2 layers of foundations as is known, a square structure with the dimensions of 7m × 7m is situated at a depth of 0.6m, directly under Cheomseongdae, and what is reading that is expected to be the foundation structure of Cheomseongdae was detected and confirmed. This foundation structure is circular with a diameter in the east-west direction of 11m and in the north-south direction of 12m. The northern, western, and eastern edges of this foundation structure are about 1m away from the foundation of Cheomseongdae, whereas the the south side extends to about 5m wide.