Gilt-bronze Belt Ornament

The belt ornament shown here is an ancient gilt-bronze artifact used to decorate a belt worn by the ruling elites of a society. It had once been a symbol of the wearer's political power and social status until it became a simple personal ornament. Known as the only example of its kind excavated so far in Jeju-do, the belt ornament was found at a sacrificial site on a coastal hill in Yongdam-dong, Jeju. Experts believe that the artifact was a very valuable object by the time when it was made and used for special religious purposes.