Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa dolmen sites

Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa dolmen sites
UNESCO world heritage
	Dolmen in Chukrim-ri, Gochang
National territory:	South Korea
Type:	Culture
Criteria :	(iii)
Reference No .:	977
UNESCO region :	Asia and Pacific
	History of enrollment
Enrollment:	2000 (session 24)

Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap

Dolmen of Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa is one of the UNESCO -listed site of world cultural heritage in the East Asian country South Korea .

The World Heritage Site comprises several areas where dolmens from prehistoric times were found in the most varied of variations and in a particularly high density, which are exceptional in Korea and in the world and therefore considered to be particularly worthy of protection.

registration

Dolmen sites of Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 based on a resolution of the 24th session of the World Heritage Committee .

The reason for the entry states, among other things:

Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa dolmen sites contain the highest density and diversity of dolmens in Korea, and even worldwide. ... The dolmen sites contain important clues as to how stones were quarried, transported and erected, and how dolmen types in Northeast Asia changed over time.

The entry was made on the basis of criterion (iii).

(iii): The global prehistoric technological and social phenomenon that occurred in the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC. Led to the appearance of grave and ritual monuments made of large stones (the "megalithic culture"), is nowhere more clearly represented than in the dolmen cemeteries of Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa.

scope

The World Heritage Site comprises three areas, which have a total of 606,833 hectares of protection and are each surrounded by buffer zones, which have a total area of 491,103 hectares.

The dolmen site of the district of Gochang- gun is located in the province of Jeollabuk-do , a few kilometers from the west coast and around 40 km northwest of the metropolis of Gwangju . Jeongup as the next largest city can be found northeast of the town. The area is divided into ten sub-areas that are close together and surrounded by a shared buffer zone.
The dolmen site of the district of Hwasun- gun is located in the province of Jeollanam-do about 15 km south of the provincial capital of Gwangju . The area has two parts that are surrounded by a common buffer zone.
The dolmen site of Ganghwa- gun County is located in the northern part of Ganghwa Island, which is part of the metropolis of Incheon . The area is divided into five separate areas, each with its own buffer zone.

ID no.	designation	location	Protection area	Buffer zone	Historic place	Sub-areas
977-001	Gochang dolmen	Gochang-gun Jeollabuk-do ( geographic coordinates )35.448512 126.648842	8.38 hectares	8.07 hectares	No. 30	ten neighboring dolmen clusters with a common buffer zone
977-002	Hwasun dolmen	Hwasun-gun Jeollanam-do ( geographic coordinates )34.976682 126.930378	31 ha	190 ha	No. 410	Hyosan-ri area ( location )34.981218 126.923516 Teashin-ri area ( location )34.972555 126.934639
977-003	Ganghwa dolmen	Ganghwa-gun Incheon ( geographic coordinates )37.766038 126.404675	12.27 hectares	116.48 ha	No. 137	Kyosan-ri area ( location )37.791951 126.401027 Pugon ri area ( location )37.773357 126.441864 Samgo-ri area ( location )37.749619 126.422119 Koch'on-ri area ( location )37.739419 126.419058 Osang ri area ( location )37.729699 126.401457

The individual dolmen sites

Korea's dolmen essentially correspond to three types, the table , go board and capstone dolmen (table, go board, capstone). In most of Korea's dolmen sites, these types are mixed.

The table dolmen (also known as the northern type) consist of two to four stones that are erected vertically and form a chamber that is covered by a capstone. In the go-board dolmen (also known as the southern type) the burial chamber is underground and the capstone rests on small stones. In the case of the Capstone dolmen, the burial chamber is also underground, but the capstone lies directly on the ground with no stones in between.

Gochang dolmen

Dolmen at Maesan in Gochang

Gochang has the densest accumulation of dolmens in the world. Over 2000 dolmens were found in groups in 85 different locations in the district. Of these, 442, which lie along a 1.7 km stretch on the southern slope of a hilly area north of the village of Maesan , have been included in the World Heritage List. They are grouped into 10 clusters of 20 to 60 dolmens each, which are in two areas. Their sizes vary between 10 and 200 tons in weight. Most of the dolmens in this area are of the so-called " checkerboard " type. Although no graves with grave supplements were found, it is believed that the stones were used for burials in the places around 400–500 BC. Chr. Were used. 23 quarries were found on the slopes above the dolmens.

Hwasun dolmen

Pingmae rocks at Teashin-ri in Hwasun

In a hilly area south of the Jiseokgang, a tributary of the Yeonsangang, 597 dolmens were found in the Bogeomjae Valley, which connects the villages of Hyosan-ri in the northwest and Teashin-ri in the southeast. Former quarries from which the dolmens were excavated could also be located. The protected area consists of two areas on both sides of the pass, each with six groups of dolmen, around 250 in the Hyosan-ri area and around 300 in the Teashin-ri area.

Investigations on 35 dolmens have shown that they were between 800 and 500 BC. Must have arisen. Arrows, wedges, chisels and gemstones were found among grave goods during excavations.

The largest dolmen in Korea can be found in Hwasun, the Pingmae Bawi (Pingmae Rock), the name of which comes from a legend. The rock used as a capstone is 7.3 m long, 5 m wide and 4 m thick and, with a weight of over 200 tons, is one of the largest examples of its kind in the world.

Ganghwa dolmen

Dolmen in Ganghwa

On Ganghwa Island there are 127 Table and Go-Board type dolmens, divided into five clusters in five different locations at the northern foot of Mount Goryeo at an altitude of 100 m to 200 m above sea level. 66 of them are in good shape.

Korea's largest dolmen stands in the village of Bugeun-ri in the middle of a field used for agriculture. Two 2.45 m high supporting stones hold a 6.4 long and 5.23 m wide capstone, which is 1.12 m thick. The weight of the capstone should be around 50 tons. This dolmen, which was not or could not be destroyed over the millennia, was also found without a grave. It is believed that this dolmen was either a monument to the prehistoric people who lived there at the time or served as an altar for ritual acts.

literature

Seo Jeong Bae : World Heritage List Application . Koch'ang, Hwasun, and Kanghwa Dolmen Sites . Ed .: The Cultural Properties Administration - Republic of Korea . Seoul June 17, 1999 ( unesco.org [PDF; 54.2 MB ; accessed on November 4, 2015]).
The Cultural Properties Administration - Republic of Korea (Ed.): Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . Preservation Plan for the Koch'ang, Hwasun, and Kanghwa Dolmen Sites . Seoul 1999 ( unesco.org [PDF; 54.2 MB ; accessed on November 4, 2015] Printouts of a presentation).
Dolmens in Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa . In: Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea (ed.): World Heritage in Korea . 2011, p. 90-101 (English).

Web links

Commons : Dolmens in South Korea - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Dolmen sites of Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).

Dolmens in Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa . Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea,accessed November 4, 2015.

Individual evidence

^ English Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites , German translation according to the World Heritage List. In: Unesco.de. Retrieved February 11, 2017 . with adaptation of the transcription
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f UNESCO World Heritage Center: Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites. In: whc.unesco.org. Retrieved February 6, 2017 .
↑ UNESCO World Heritage Center: Decision: CONF 204 XC1. In: whc.unesco.org. Retrieved February 8, 2017 .
↑ UNESCO World Heritage Center: Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites. Maps. In: whc.unesco.org. Retrieved February 22, 2017 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dolmens in Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa . Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea , accessed November 4, 2015 .
^ Seo Jeong Bae: World Heritage List Application. 1999, p. 3
↑ Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 5 .
↑ Gochang Dolmen . In: Guide to Korea . Korea Tourism Organization , Seoul July 2008, The Southwest Area (Gwangju, Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do), p. 171 .
↑ Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 6 .
↑ Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 13 .
↑ Klaus A. Dietsch: Hwasun Dolmen . In: South Korea . 1st edition. Trescher Verlag, Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3-89794-244-8 , Der Südosten, p. 284 .
↑ Gwak Jae-gu : Hwasun - A peaceful place full of mystical energy . In: The Korea Foundation (Ed.): Koreana - Korean Art and Culture . Volume 10, No. 3, autumn. Seoul 2015, p. 56 .
↑ Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 21st f .

Remarks

↑ In the literature it is often found that the extraordinarily large dolmen of Ganghwa is confused with the dolmen rock of Hwasun. The information on size and weight also vary depending on the literature and should be used with care.

[1] English Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites , German translation according to the World Heritage List. In: Unesco.de. Retrieved February 11, 2017 . with adaptation of the transcription

[whc-2] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f UNESCO World Heritage Center: Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites. In: whc.unesco.org. Retrieved February 6, 2017 .

[decision-3] UNESCO World Heritage Center: Decision: CONF 204 XC1. In: whc.unesco.org. Retrieved February 8, 2017 .

[maps-4] UNESCO World Heritage Center: Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites. Maps. In: whc.unesco.org. Retrieved February 22, 2017 .

[CHA_Dolmen_in_GHG-5] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dolmens in Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa . Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea , accessed November 4, 2015 .

[6] Seo Jeong Bae: World Heritage List Application. 1999, p. 3

[Präsentation_S5-7] Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 5 .

[Reisef_Korea_S171-8] Gochang Dolmen . In: Guide to Korea . Korea Tourism Organization , Seoul July 2008, The Southwest Area (Gwangju, Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do), p. 171 .

[Präsentation_S6-9] Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 6 .

[Präsentation_S13-10] Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 13 .

[Dietsch_S284-11] Klaus A. Dietsch: Hwasun Dolmen . In: South Korea . 1st edition. Trescher Verlag, Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3-89794-244-8 , Der Südosten, p. 284 .

[Koreana_Gwak_S56-12] Gwak Jae-gu : Hwasun - A peaceful place full of mystical energy . In: The Korea Foundation (Ed.): Koreana - Korean Art and Culture . Volume 10, No. 3, autumn. Seoul 2015, p. 56 .

[Präsentation_S21f-13] Properties Submitted for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List . 1999, p. 21st f .

[Anmerkung_2-14] In the literature it is often found that the extraordinarily large dolmen of Ganghwa is confused with the dolmen rock of Hwasun. The information on size and weight also vary depending on the literature and should be used with care.