Ancient site · Megalith
Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa dolmens
Korea has some 40 percent of all the world's dolmens, stone grave markers made of a huge capstone resting on smaller stones. Three clusters were listed by UNESCO in 2000.
Gochang has 442 recorded dolmens, believed built around the 7th century BCE. Hwasun has dolmens beside the quarries that supplied their stones, and Ganghwa Island has large table-type dolmens, the most famous at Bugeun-ri. They were built by Bronze Age farming communities, and the largest capstones weigh well over 100 tonnes, which shows how many people leaders could gather.
- Dates
- c. 1000–300 BCE (Bronze Age; Gochang group c. 7th century BCE)
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 35.43° N, 126.70° E
How we know
No writing existed; the dolmens are dated by the Bronze Age objects found with them, so their dates are approximate.
Nearby sites
- Songguk-ri c. 850–300 BCE
- Bangudae Petroglyphs c. 5000 BCE – 9th century CE (approximate)
- Yoshinogari before 400 BCE – 3rd century CE
- Mausoleum of Tangun legendary date 2333 BCE; present monument built 1994
- Gwanggaeto Stele erected 414 CE
- Hemudu c. 5500–3300 BCE
Related
- Mumun culture archaeological culture
- The world in 1000 BCE: Out of the Collapse chapter