These five tombs are known to be the tombs of the founding royal family of the Silla kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE), the Bak Clan. They include tombs of the Silla's founder, King Hyeokgeose (r. 57 BCE-4 CE), and his wife, Queen Aryeong (69 BCE-4 CE), as well as his son King Namhae (r. 4-24), his grandson King Yuri (r. 24-57), and his great-grandson King Pasa (r. 80-112), the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th rulers of Silla, respectively.
In 37 BCE, Bak Hyeokgeose built a capital fortress and named it Geumseong ("Golden Fortress"), and five years later built a palace there. King Namhae took Seok Talhae as his son-in-law and gave him a high position in the government.
King Yuri, in 32 CE, bestowed surnames to the six founding chiefdoms of Silla and created 17 administrative ranks.
King Pasa set up a policy for defense against the neighboring states, Baekje and Gaya, and expanded the Silla territory by incorporating the nearby chiefdoms. Among the five tombs, the one in the west is the largest at 33m in diameter and 7 m in height. The tombs are presumed to be the same type as other nearby tombs, which are wooden chamber tombs with a stone mound. To the southwest of the tombs, there is a ritual house, called Sungdeokjeon, which honors King Hyeokgeose. It was first built in 1429, and later rebuilt after it was burned down in the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598. To the east of the tombs, there is a well which is believed to be where Queen Aryeong was born.