Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites


The Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites are the location of hundreds of stone dolmens which were used as grave markers, and for ritual purposes during the first millennium BCE when the Megalithic Culture was prominent on the Korean Peninsula. The sites were designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. Korea is said to contain more than 40% of the world's dolmen, which are mostly concentrated in these three sites.
The megalithic 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 have been dated to the seventh century BCE in locations such as Gochang and the practice ended around the third century BCE. The dolmen culture is linked with the Neolithic 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

There are three main theories about the origin of the ancient Korean Dolmen. First, the theory that it was spread through the sea in Southeast Asia, secondly, the theory that it was derived from a stone tomb in the north, and third, the theory that it originated in Korea.

The theory of spreading from South Asia

According to the first theory, the Dolmen spread through Southeast Asia along with the rice culture. Dolmens are distributed along the west coast of Korea and the distribution is consistent in the southern part of the culture. The Dolmen was spread from Southeast Asia along with agriculture.

The theory of spreading from Northern Asia

This theory is derived from the assumption that the Dolmen developed from the stone tomb of the Manchuria because it is closely related to the Bronze Age culture in the north. If a stone mound is exposed to the ground due to the large size, the stone will be a stone-shaped table. Although it is very persuasive in terms of shape, it is not distributed in northern Asia such as Manchuria and Siberia.

The theory of originating in Korea

In the background of this theory, dolmens are the most distributed in Korea. They are diverse in shape and are timed ahead of those of other countries. It is highly likely that the culture of the South and the North will have developed a unique Dolmen culture in Korea. The peninsula originated from its geographical location where it provided easy access to the culture of the north and south.

Description

Dolmens are generally classified as two types in East Asia. 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 group of dolmen is the largest and most varied. They are known as the Jungnim-ri dolmens and are centered in Maesan village, Gochang County, North Jeolla province.
The dolmens were built from east to west at the foot of a series of hills at an altitude of 15 to 50 meters/49 feet to 164 feet. Generally, the capstones of the dolmens are around 1 to 5.8 meters/3.2 to 19 feet 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 Yangtze Valley, 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 County, Incheon. 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 and Gocheon-ri 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

South Korea's dolmen is mostly concentrated in South Jeolla Province. By region, there are 338 units in Gangwon-do, 502 in Gyeonggi-do, 189 in Chungcheongbuk-do, 1597 in Jeollabuk-do, 10,068 in Jeollanam-do, 2,800 in Gyeongsangbuk-do, and 140 in Jeju-do.
Recently, a large number of sites were discovered in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, and 101 more were added to the list.
In Sansuri, Yulchon-myeon, Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, there is a Dolmen, which is presumed to be the largest in the world.
There were quite a few Dolmens in Seoul too. However, in the process of rapid urban development, the dolmen is believed to have almost been destroyed. Dolmen existed in Jeongneung-dong, Gaepo-dong Daemo mountain, Umyun-dong, Yangjae-dong, Wonji-dong, and Gocheok-dong. Among them, Won Ji-dong Dolmens were discovered with related artifacts in 1984 but most of them are now believed to have been destroyed because they did not take any protection from the installation of protective facilities, signs, and cultural properties.

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 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, 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, 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.