Archaeologists in South Korea have uncovered a 1,300-year-old toilet believed to have been used by a crown prince during the Silla Dynasty (57 BCE–935 CE). The remarkable discovery, made at the site of a former palace in Gyeongju, offers an unprecedented glimpse into the sanitation practices of Korea’s ancient elite.
A Rare Glimpse Into Royal Hygiene
The excavation, conducted by researchers from the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, revealed an elaborate stone toilet in what was once the crown prince’s palace. The toilet, which features a sophisticated drainage system, is one of the oldest known royal flush toilets in the world.
According to archaeologists, the structure consists of a rectangular stone slab with a carved hole designed for human waste disposal. It is connected to an underground sewage system, suggesting that the palace had an advanced plumbing infrastructure far ahead of its time.
This 1,300-Year-Old Discovery Rewrites History
The newly discovered toilet provides crucial evidence that ancient Korean elites prioritized hygiene and urban planning. Until now, scholars had little direct evidence of sanitation facilities in Silla palaces.
The presence of such a system indicates that royal households had access to water-flushing technology, a feature often associated with much later periods in history.
Experts believe that this toilet may have been used exclusively by the crown prince, as commoners at the time did not have access to such luxury.
Jeon Joon-oh, an archaeologist involved in the excavation, emphasized that this find challenges previous assumptions about the level of technological advancement in the Silla Dynasty.
How The Ancient System Worked?
Unlike modern flush toilets, this ancient system relied on gravity and water flow to remove waste. Researchers speculate that palace workers or attendants poured water into the system manually, flushing waste through the stone drainage channels that led away from the palace.
“This particular toilet may have been used by the crown prince and the court ladies closest to him, Kim explained.
The system is also strikingly similar to those found in other ancient civilizations, including the Roman Empire, which used aqueducts and latrines with flowing water. This suggests that the Silla Dynasty may have independently developed or adopted similar plumbing innovations.
Image credit: Photo courtesy of Kim Gyeong Yeol
What Was Found Inside The Toilet?
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the discovery is what archaeologists found inside the toilet—traces of human waste. Researchers are now conducting biochemical analyses on the remnants to determine what the ancient royals ate and whether they suffered from parasitic infections or other diseases.
Similar studies conducted on ancient toilets in other parts of the world have revealed surprising insights into historical diets and health. If successful, this analysis could provide an unprecedented look into the daily life of Silla aristocracy.
A New Perspective On Palace Life
The discovery of the crown prince’s toilet is a reminder that royal luxury extended even to personal hygiene. While ancient civilizations are often remembered for their grand palaces, temples, and military conquests, everyday aspects of life—such as sanitation and public health—were just as crucial to their success.
South Korea continues to be a treasure trove for archaeologists studying the Silla Dynasty, and this latest find adds a new dimension to our understanding of palace life.
