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The Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites () are the location of hundreds of stone
dolmen A dolmen, () or portal tomb, is a type of single-chamber Megalith#Tombs, megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or "table". Most date from the Late Neolithic period (4000 ...
s which were used as grave markers, and for ritual purposes during the first millennium
BCE Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are year notations for the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar), the world's most widely used calendar era. Common Era and Before the Common Era are alternatives to the o ...
when the Megalithic Culture was prominent on the
Korean Peninsula Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea (Dem ...
. The sites were designated as a
World Heritage World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
Site by
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
in 2000.UNESCO World Heritage List. "Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites." https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/977 The
Korean Peninsula Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically divided at or near the 38th parallel between North Korea (Dem ...
is home to over 35,000 dolmens, accounting for approximately 40% of the world's total; the Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa sites are themselves home to over 1,000 dolmens. The
megalithic A megalith is a large Rock (geology), stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. More than 35,000 megalithic structures have been identified across Europe, ranging ...
stones are invaluable because they mark the graves of the ruling elite. Pottery, comma-shaped jewels, bronzes, stone tools, and other funerary artifacts have been excavated from these dolmen. The culture of the people during this time can be gleaned from the evidence left by the dolmen. Additionally, it can be induced from the stones how the stone was quarried, transported, and used to build the dolmen. Dolmen in
Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
have been dated to the seventh century BCE in locations such as
Gochang Gochang County () is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, county in Jeonbuk State, South Korea. It is a rural area, and is home to only one institution of higher education: Gochang Polytechnic College. Notable people from Gochang include ...
and the practice ended around the third century BCE. The dolmen culture is linked with the
Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...
and bronze cultures of Korea. Excavation at the sites did not begin until 1965. Since then, multiple digs have been sponsored and an extensive program of inventory and preservation has been initiated by the Korean government.


Origin theories

Three main theories exist regarding the origins of the Korean dolmens: 1) information about dolmens and their construction was transmitted via sea routes from Southeast Asia; 2) information about dolmens and their construction was transmitted from Neolithic peoples living north of the Korean Peninsula; and 3) dolmens in Korea originated from Neolithic civilizations on the Korean Peninsula.


Theorized transmission from Southeast Asia

According to this theory, information about dolmens and their construction spread from
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
along with rice culture. Many dolmens on the Korean Peninsula are distributed along Korea's western coastline, especially in the south of the peninsula, and this distribution could be consistent with transmission via migration from Southeast Asia.


Theorized spread from Northeast Asia

This theory postulates that Neolithic peoples in present-day Manchuria and southern Siberia either brought dolmen and their construction information with them when migrating to the Korean Peninsula, or that such information was transmitted to Neolithic peoples already in Korea from other Neolithic groups in present-day Manchuria and southern Siberia. This theory relies at some other observations: the similarities in shape between dolmens in Korea and those in present-day Manchuria and southern Siberia and; the similarities in Bronze Age burial artifacts (see
Liaoning bronze dagger culture The Liaoning bronze dagger culture or Lute-shaped bronze dagger culture is the provisional designation of an archeological complex of the Bronze Age in Northeast China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Its classification is controvers ...
) between those in Korea and those in present-day Manchuria; and the close connection between dolmens in present-day Manchuria and southern Siberia and the Bronze Age culture in those regions. However, the distribution of dolmens in present-day Manchuria and southern Siberia is much less concentrated than in Korea, which weakens this theory.


Theorized Korean origin

This theory is based on the facts that: Korean dolmens are the most concentrated of any in the world, and that Korea alone accounts for some 40% of all dolmens in the world; Korean dolmens are diverse in morphology and distinct from those in other parts of the world;Joussaume, Roger ''Dolmens for the Dead'' Batsford Ltd (Jan 1988) p. 141–142 and megalithic culture on the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity appears to have flourished extensively, with some dolmens depicting astronomical formations dated to 3000 BC, the reasons for which are currently unknown. This theory postulates that it is highly likely that the Neolithic and Bronze Age culture(s) of the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity developed a unique dolmen culture. In particular, the presence of two distinct styles of dolmen (Northern and Southern, their distribution limits roughly corresponding to the course of the
Bukhan River The Bukhan () is a tributary of the Han River that flows through both North and South Korea. It traverses Kangwon Province, North Korea and the Gangwon and Gyeonggi Provinces in South Korea. The Bukhan's headwaters lie in North Korea near Geu ...
) suggests that Korea's geographic location may have provided easy access for the Neolithic/Bronze Age peoples of Korea to dolmen cultures from multiple regions, influencing the development of a unique dolmen culture.


Description

Dolmens are generally classified as two types in
East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...
. The table/northern-type and the go-board/southern-type. In the former, four stones were positioned to make the walls of a box and were capped by a stone which lay on top of the supports. The latter is characterized by underground burial with stones that supported the capstone.


Gochang Dolmen Site

This site of dolmens contains the largest and most varied group. They are known as the Jungnim-ri dolmens and are centered in Maesan village,
Gochang County Gochang County () is a county in Jeonbuk State, South Korea. It is a rural area, and is home to only one institution of higher education: Gochang Polytechnic College. Notable people from Gochang include the 20th-century poet Midang. The temp ...
,
North Jeolla North Jeolla Province, officially Jeonbuk State (), is a Special Self-governing Province of South Korea in the Honam region in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. Jeonbuk borders the provinces of South Chungcheong to the north, North Gyeo ...
province. The dolmens were built from east to west at the foot of a series of hills at an altitude of . Generally, the capstones of the dolmens are around in length and may weigh up to 225 tons. 442 dolmens have been documented and classified based on the size of the capstone. This group is believed to have been constructed around the seventh century BCE. The Gochang Dolmen Site is listed as Historic Site #391.


Hwasun Dolmen Sites

Hwasun Dolmen site is located in the valleys around the Jiseokgang River, which connects Hyosan-ri, Dogok-myeon, and Dasin-ri, Chunyang-myeon. The dolmen scattered around Hyosan-ri, Dogok-myeon is estimated to be the dolmen of 135 out of a total of 980 stone structures. These dolmens are less well preserved than the Jungnim-ri group. The dolmens of Hyosan-ri are estimated to have been exposed to at least 250 places, including those that have been quarried for building the dolmen. According to a survey, 124 out of 3,309 stone structures are estimated to be dolmen. The typical characteristic of Hwasun Dolmen is 596 dolmens in a small area, and the largest statue in Korea is located in Daesin-ri, Chunyang-myeon. The tomb is 7.3 meters long, 5.0 meters wide, and 4.0 meters thick, and weighs 280 tons. The largest dolmen in Hyosan-ri, Dogok-myeon, is 5.3 meters long, 3.6 meters wide, and 3.0 meters thick, which is estimated to be more than 100 tons. The Hwasun Dolmen Site is listed as Historic Site #410. The Hwasun Dolmen site was registered as World Heritage No. 997 with Gochang and Ganghwa Dolmen on December 2, 2000.


Ganghwa Dolmen Sites

These dolmens are located on
Ganghwa Island Ganghwa Island (), also Ganghwado, is an island in Ganghwa County, Incheon, South Korea. It is in the Yellow Sea and in an estuary of the Han River. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainland) by a narrow channel spanned ...
,
Ganghwa County Ganghwa County () is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, county in Incheon, South Korea. The county is composed of Ganghwa Island and the minor islands around it. History Ganghwa County contains some of the most important historical sites ...
,
Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to the east. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Incheon was home to just 4,700 people when it became an international port in 1883. As of February 2020, ...
. They are situated on the slopes of mountains and are thus higher in elevation than their counterparts. These dolmens are believed to be the earliest ones made because the dolmen groups in Bugeun-ri (, in Hajeom-myeon) and Gocheon-ri (, in Naega-myeon) resemble the early dolmens. However, this has not been conclusively proved. Ganghwa Island is a place rich in mountains and water and early ruling groups were formed to make dolmen. Also, there are about 150 dolmens in abundance, which is good for making dolmen. The distribution map of the dolmen shows that the dolmens were closely related to fishing in the Bronze Age, although they are now separated from the sea. A notable dolmen at Ganghwa is a northern/table-type dolmen, where it was believed that ancestral rites were performed. It is the biggest stone in South Korea with measures of 2.6 × 7.1 × 5.5 meters, but it only has two supporting stones. Combined, the supporting stones and the capstone weigh between 150 and 225 tons. It was designated as Historic Site No. 137 as one of the representative tombs of the Bronze Age. A large stone measuring 710 cm long, 260 cm high, and 550 cm wide was used, and the shape of the stone is a northern type of dolmen, making it a good source of research on ancient history. The Ganghwa Dolmen site was registered as a World Heritage Site along with Gochang and Hwasun at the 24th UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Cairns, Australia on November 29, 2000.


Other Korean dolmens

Dolmens in South Korea are mostly concentrated in
South Jeolla Province South Jeolla Province (), formerly South Chŏlla Province, also known as Jeonnam (), is a province in the Honam, Honam region, South Korea, and the Provinces of Korea, southernmost province in mainland Korea. South Jeolla borders the provinces of ...
. By region, there are 338 in Gangwon Province, 502 in
Gyeonggi Province Gyeonggi Province (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as a provincial-level ''special city'' since 1946. Incheon, ...
, 189 in
North Chungcheong Province North Chungcheong Province (), also known as Chungbuk, is a province of South Korea. North Chungcheong has a population of 1,578,934 (2014) and has a geographic area of located in the Hoseo region on the south-centre of the Korean Peninsula. No ...
, 1597 in
North Jeolla Province North Jeolla Province, officially Jeonbuk State (), is a Special Self-governing Province of South Korea in the Honam region in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. Jeonbuk borders the provinces of South Chungcheong to the north, North Gyeo ...
, 10,068 in
South Jeolla Province South Jeolla Province (), formerly South Chŏlla Province, also known as Jeonnam (), is a province in the Honam, Honam region, South Korea, and the Provinces of Korea, southernmost province in mainland Korea. South Jeolla borders the provinces of ...
, 2,800 in
North Gyeongsang Province North Gyeongsang Province (, ) is a province in eastern South Korea, and with an area of , it is the largest province in the Korean peninsula. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, and remaine ...
, and 140 in
Jeju Province Jeju Province (; ), officially Jeju Special Self-Governing Province (Jeju language, Jeju: ; ), is the southernmost Provinces of South Korea, province of South Korea, consisting of eight inhabited and 55 uninhabited islands, including Marado, Udo ...
. Recently, a large number of sites were discovered in
Chuncheon Chuncheon (; ; literally ''spring river''), formerly romanized as Ch'unch'ŏn, is the capital of Gangwon Province, South Korea. The city lies in the north of the country, located in a basin formed by the Soyang River and Han River (Korea), Han R ...
, Gangwon-do, and 101 more dolmens were added to Korea's already-lengthy list of dolmens. Sansuri, Yulchon-myeon,
Yeosu Yeosu, formerly romanized as Yosu, is a coastal city located on the southern shore of South Korea. With a population of 268,823, Yeosu is the second largest city in South Jeolla Province. In 1998, the Old Yeosu City, Yeocheon City and Yeocheon C ...
, Jeollanam-do, is home to a dolmen presumed to be the largest in the world.
Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
and its metropolitan area is believed to have, at one time, been home to a large number of dolmens, which would be consistent with the higher concentration of dolmens in western Korea. However, in the process of rapid
urban development Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of peop ...
, many dolmens are believed to have been lost. Dolmens existed in
Jeongneung-dong Jeongneung-dong () is a '' dong'' (neighbourhood) of Seongbuk District, Seoul, South Korea. See also *Administrative divisions of South Korea South Korea is made up of 22 first-tier administrative divisions: 6 List of special cities of Sou ...
,
Gaepo-dong Gaepo-dong () is a ward of Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea, south of Dogok-dong and Daechi-dong. Gaepodong is divided into three "dong": Gaepo 1, 2, and 4 dong. Gaepo 3-dong had been merged with Gaepo 2-dong in 2009. Education Schools lo ...
Daemo mountain, Umyun-dong, Yangjae-dong, Wonji-dong, and
Gocheok-dong Gocheok-dong () is a '' dong'' (neighborhood) of Guro District, Seoul, South Korea. See also *Administrative divisions of South Korea South Korea is made up of 22 first-tier administrative divisions: 6 List of special cities of South Korea ...
. Among them, the dolmens in Won Ji-dong were discovered with related artifacts in 1984 but most of them are now believed to have been destroyed due to a lack of government protections (in the form of protective facilities, signs, and cultural property designations).


Roles of dolmen

Although there were many controversies over the function of the dolmen on the Korean Peninsula, it was confirmed that the stone was made for the purpose of the tomb in 1967 when the complete human bones were discovered at Hwangseok-ri Dolmen in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province. However, some argue that the tomb was not just a function of the tomb. Although there is no objection to the fact that the tomb functioned as a tomb, some argue that the stone was made as a function of an
altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...
or tombstone in addition to the tomb. Claiming the function of the altar, the table dolmen might have served as an altar rather than a tomb, citing the fact that they are located higher than the surrounding area so that people can easily see, and the appearance of grandeur on the
pedestal A pedestal or plinth is a support at the bottom of a statue, vase, column, or certain altars. Smaller pedestals, especially if round in shape, may be called socles. In civil engineering, it is also called ''basement''. The minimum height o ...
, and the structure of the pedestal, which is difficult to form a tomb. In addition, in the case of a group of dolmen, sometimes the dolmen can be seen to be unusually large or different in direction than other dolmens, which is presumed to be a simple function that was built to reveal the authority and prestige of the tomb-building group.


Cadaver and status

Examples of human bones excavated from the dolmen site are Hwangseok-ri in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, Chuncheon in Gangwon Province, Jincheon-dong in
Daegu Daegu (; ), formerly spelled Taegu and officially Daegu Metropolitan City (), is a city in southeastern South Korea. It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in South Korea after Seoul and Busan; the fourth-largest List of provincial-level ci ...
, and Daepyeong-ri in Jinyang, South Gyeongsang Province. The discovery of human bones provides an insight into the funeral customs during the construction of the dolmen, and also provides information on the thought and religious aspects of the time. In particular, the Hwangseok-ri dolmen skeleton is almost perfect, about 176 centimeters tall, and the skull shape differs from that of today's Koreans, but it has yet to be confirmed whether it is a common form or personal difference. The claim that the person buried in the dolmen is a tomb of a powerful ruler, such as a tribal chief, is gaining credence. There are also various other claims, including the tomb of the ruler and his family, the joint tomb of a blood-related group, and the tomb of the person who made a contribution in the war.


See also

*
History of Korea The Lower Paleolithic era on the Korean Peninsula and in Manchuria began roughly half a million years ago. Christopher J. Norton, "The Current State of Korean Paleoanthropology", (2000), ''Journal of Human Evolution'', 38: 803–825. The earl ...
* List of dolmens *
List of largest monoliths This is a list of monoliths organized according to the size of the largest block of stone on the site. A monolith is a large stone which has been used to build a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. In this list at l ...


References


External links


Cultural Heritage

Korean National Heritage Online

UNESCO

Gochang Dolmen site Homepage

Ganghwa
{{World Heritage Sites in the Republic of Korea Archaeological sites in South Korea Dolmens in South Korea Culture of Korea World Heritage Sites in South Korea