Reconstructing the Historic Terrain of the Buyeo Royal Tombs for Enhancing the Understanding of World Heritage Authenticity Using Multi-Temporal Spatial Data

Abstract

The Buyeo Royal Tombs in Neungsan-ri represent a royal funerary complex of the Baekje Sabi period (A.D. 538–660) and form an important cultural landscape reflecting the spatial organization of the Sabi capital. As part of the Baekje Historic Areas inscribed on the World Heritage List, the site holds significant historical and spatial value. However, the present terrain differs substantially from its historical configuration due to extensive maintenance works conducted in 1966, including ground leveling, artificial embankment construction, and partial relocation of burial mounds. These modifications have obscured the original topographic context of the royal cemetery. In this study, we reconstruct the former terrain of the Buyeo Royal Tombs through the integration of historical maps, aerial photographs, archeological excavation data, and contemporary spatial datasets. To overcome methodological limitations regarding historical map accuracy, a rigorous three-stage backward georeferencing procedure utilizing Helmert and Thin-Plate Spline (TPS) transformations was applied. Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetry were newly acquired primarily to permanently archive the current state of the heritage site and provide an absolute geometric baseline. The reconstructed terrain approximates the landscape prior to modern interventions and enables analysis of the spatial organization of the royal cemetery. The results indicate that the Neungsan-ri royal tombs were strategically located on visually prominent south-facing slopes outside the Sabi capital, reflecting deliberate spatial planning and funerary ideology. This study provides a methodological reference for digital cultural landscape research and supports future heritage conservation and reconstruction planning.