While carefully digging through the rocky soil of South Korea, archaeologists uncovered a remarkable ancient crown — slightly bent but clearly elaborate. What made it stand out was its unique decoration, which turned out to be a one-of-a-kind discovery.

The crown was found in 2020 during the excavation of a burial site labeled Tomb 120-2 in Gyeongju. This was part of a broader initiative to uncover and preserve artifacts from the Silla Kingdom, according to a news release from the Korea Heritage Service dated May 21. The Silla Kingdom, which lasted from 57 BC to 935 AD, was a powerful dynasty that unified the Korean peninsula.

Despite its unassuming name, the tomb contained a rich assortment of ornamental items dating back to the 6th century. Among the artifacts recovered were gold earrings, pendants, a silver belt and bracelet, a bracelet made of beads, several silver rings, bronze shoes, and most notably, a crown.

Experts soon realized that this 1,400-year-old crown was the most magnificent one ever discovered in the Gyeongju region. However, it wasn’t until it underwent conservation that they grasped the full extent of its uniqueness.

To their surprise, the crown was decorated with the wings of jewel beetles — and many of those wings were still in place. A diagram shows the crown’s original form: a thin band with five vertical ornaments rising from it. The two outer pieces resembled deer antlers, while the three central ones were four-tiered in design.

The crown was perforated with heart-shaped holes, turned upside down, and filled with vivid insect wings that served as ornamental inlays. So far, 15 such decorations have been identified, with about half still attached to the crown. Some beetle wings retained their natural green, yellow, and red iridescence, while others had turned black.

Although beetle wing decorations have been found before on items like horse harnesses and belts, a crown of this nature had never been seen before — making it a truly unprecedented discovery.

The crown, originally made of bronze and later coated in gold, was also adorned with gold beads and pieces of jade. It was discovered resting on the head of the person buried in Tomb 120-2. While the individual’s identity remains unknown, they were estimated to have been about 5 feet 7 inches tall. Research at the site is ongoing.

Gyeongju is a historic city on South Korea’s southeastern coast, located around 170 miles from Seoul.