Photo: Bugeulli Jiseok dolmen, the representative dolmen in Ganghwa
Location: Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do; Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do; Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
Dolmens are stone graves that were built during the prehistoric era. Gochang Dolmen Site, Hwasun Dolmen Site and Ganghwa Dolmen Site are unparalleled in the world, given the degree of concentration and diversity in the forms and scales of dolmens discovered in these three sites. Most of the dolmens were built in B.C 1000, providing modern people with a vital glimpse into the society and technological advancement of the period.
Recognized by UNESCO in 2000, dolmens in Gochang, Ganghwa, and Hwasun are considered the finest artifacts for studying the social structure of Korea in the Bronze Age and cultural exchanges with people in Northeastern Asia during the Prehistoric Era. In particular, the dolmens' exact construction process can be seen from existing quarries, providing vital materials in studying the history of dolmens and how they have changed over time.
Photo: Gochang Dolmen Site (left) / Hwasun Dolmen Site (right)
Gochang Dolmen site in Jungnim-ri, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, has one of the largest concentrations of dolmen, with over 1,550 dolmens in the area. Of the many dolmens, 447 of Gochang’s dolmens were officially registered with UNESCO. Gochang is a well-known dolmen site in Korea for allowing visitors to see many dolmens in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Hwasun Dolmen Site is spread throughout a 10km-long mountain valley linking Hyosan-ri and Daesin-ri. The site has a total of 596 dolmens, usually found at the foot of the mountain or on the rocky mountain tops. Being located in areas difficult for humans to access, the dolmens have remained nearly perfectly preserved.
Photo: Gochang Dolmen Museum (left) / Dugout hut at Ganghwa Dolmen Site
There are over 120 dolmens remaining from the Bronze Age at Ganghwa. The distribution of dolmens here is quite widely spread throughout a diverse topography, which is conclusive evidence that the societal structures were quite different depending on the dates the dolmens were built.
It is assumed that the materials used to build the dolmen stones were transported from a distant rock quarry or stony coast. Therefore, the social and power structure were presumably well established, given that it was not an easy task to move a large rock during that era.
The most representative dolmen in the region is 'Bugeulli Jiseok Dolmen', a table-styled dolmen with a huge cover stone, 5.6m in width and 7.1m in length, resting on two supporting stones 2.6m in height. The purpose of this dolmen has not yet been discovered but there have been speculations that it was either the tomb of a tribal chief or an altar for rituals.