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Archaeologists in South Korea have uncovered ancient medieval flush toilets in a 1,300-year-old palace, including a unique system designed for the crown prince. Unlike the era’s other waste disposal methods, this special toilet had a drain that emptied directly into a nearby river.
The discovery at Donggung Palace offers new insights into sanitation practices during the Unified Silla period (A.D. 668–935). Researchers from the Korean Heritage Service have studied the site for years, but recent excavations revealed these early water-draining toilets, the first found in Korea.
A symbol of status and power
Excavation leader Kim Gyeong Yeol stated that the prince’s toilet was uniquely designed compared to others in the palace. According to him, one of the toilets “directly discharges human waste into the river through a drain.” In contrast, other toilets in nearby buildings stored waste inside, functioning more like traditional outhouses.
Experts believe this exclusive feature reflected social status. The crown prince and high-ranking palace women may have been the only ones allowed to use it. This system “seems to have a hierarchical meaning,” Gyeong Yeol explained.
The Donggung Palace, meaning “Crown Prince” Palace, was built in A.D. 674 along with Woji Pond. This was during the early years of Unified Silla when the Kingdom of Silla ruled most of the Korean Peninsula.
According to the Korean Heritage Service, excavations at the site have uncovered the remains of at least 26 buildings and numerous artifacts, including bowls, plates, and flower-patterned bricks. However, the discovery of these early flushing toilets marks a significant breakthrough in understanding the era’s sanitation practices.
Ancient sanitation in Korea and beyond
While these are the oldest flush toilets in Korea, they are not the earliest in history. The Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 B.C.), located in present-day Pakistan, had cities with drain-based toilets. According to a 2016 study, these systems funneled waste into a network of sewage drains—functioning centuries before similar systems appeared elsewhere.
The English, often credited with inventing the modern flush toilet, developed their first version much later. In 1596, Sir John Harrington designed a flushing toilet for Queen Elizabeth I. His invention emptied waste into cesspools but lacked an S-bend, allowing odors to return to the room. It also required 7.5 gallons (28 liters) of water per flush, making it far less efficient than today’s toilets.
The discovery at Donggung Palace sheds light on how early civilizations managed sanitation and social hierarchy. While modern flush toilets rely on automatic systems, these ancient versions required servants to pour water manually for flushing.