Detail

`Dolmens, called `Goindol` in Korean, are tombs constructed of large stone slabs. Dolmens in Korea, which are representative relics of the Bronze Age, are found nationwide. The dolmens vary in form by time and region. The Northeast Asian region has the largest density of dolmens in the world, and Korea has the greatest number. Over 30 thousand dolmens are believed to be in Korea nationwide. Among them, the dolmen sites in Ganghwa, Hwasoon and Gochang were registered as world heritages in 2000. With their high density and great variety, these dolmens serve as important relics that describe the formation and development process of dolmens. They explicitly demonstrate the technology and social development of the prehistoric age that created these funerary and ceremonial relics. As the dolmens are important relics for the study of the prehistoric age, they are highly valued and targets of preservation. Dolmens in Ganghwa In Ganghwa, Korea`s largest northern-type dolmen is found (dolmens piled up like a table), the capstone of which is 7.1 meters long and 2.6 meters tall. Some of the dolmens rise 100 to 200 meters above the sea level, which is higher than the average altitude. Excavated from beneath the dolmens in Naega-myeon were stone daggers, stone arrow-heads and earthenware without any patterns. These relics serve as important data for studying the lifestyle of the prehistoric age. Dolmens in Hwasoon and Gochang In Hwasoon-gun county in Jeollanam-do province, there is a high density of over 500 dolmens stretching over 10 kilometers. Also discovered here was a quarry that shows how these dolmens were erected. The site kept intact provides many clues as to how the stones were quarried, transported and lifted. Excavated from these sites were stone works, earthenware, brass products and accessories. Gochang in Jeollanam-do province has a density of Korea`s largest dolmens. A total of 442 dolmens in various sizes weighing from 10 tons to some weighing 300 tons are distributed in an area stretching some 1,764 meters. These dolmens come in various types, including the go-board type known as the southern type, the table-type known as the northern type and the capstone type which only has the cover stone. Dolmens in Sanggap-ri, Asan-myeon, are the last of the northern-type dolmens situated in the southern boundary and are of high academic significance.`