1. Why Dolmens Matter
Across the globe, dolmens stand as silent yet powerful remnants of early human civilization.
But nowhere are they found in greater density, diversity, or preservation than on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea is home to over 40,000 dolmens, accounting for approximately 60%~70% of all dolmens in the world.
In 2000, the dolmen sites of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage, not just for their scale but for the cultural and historical depth they offer.
“The Korean dolmens are unparalleled in their quantity and variety and are a tangible reminder of the complex societies that thrived here thousands of years ago.”
— [Cultural Heritage Administration, Korea]Although the figures vary slightly depending on the source, at least 40% and up to 70% of the world’s dolmens are concentrated on the Korean Peninsula.
2. Gochang Dolmen Site – The Archetype of Megalithic Culture
Among Korea’s dolmen sites, Gochang is the most emblematic.
This expansive site boasts 447 dolmens, arranged meticulously across gentle hills in deliberate alignment.
Key features include:
- The largest concentration of table-type dolmens in Korea
- Surrounding artifacts such as polished stone axes, knives, jade ornaments, and pottery
- A strong indication of social hierarchy, ritual sophistication, and engineering skill
Rather than random burial grounds, these dolmens reflect a planned, symbolic landscape—suggesting an advanced understanding of space, community, and the afterlife.
3. The Architecture of Dolmens
Korean dolmens are typically classified into three types:
- Table-type dolmen (탁자식): Large flat stone laid atop upright support stones
- Slab-type dolmen (기반식): A horizontal stone resting directly on the ground
- Covering-type dolmen (개석식): Stones buried under earthen mounds
The most iconic is the table-type, which often weighs up to 100 tons, requiring high-level coordination, tools, and manpower.
Such feats indicate a society that was not primitive but highly organized, technologically skilled, and culturally rich.
4. What Dolmens Tell Us About Ancient Korean Life
Dolmens are more than tombs.
They are cultural time capsules—preserving tools, ornaments, and even astronomical knowledge.
In Ganghwa, some dolmens appear to align with celestial events.
In Hwasun, their placement suggests an understanding of geography and ritual symmetry.
These discoveries reveal that Korea’s prehistoric peoples were not only skilled builders but keen observers of the stars, nature, and human cycles.
5. From “Dolmaengi” to “Dolmen” – A Linguistic and Cultural Clue
In Korean, dolmens are colloquially referred to as “돌맹이 무덤” (dolmaengi mudeom)—literally, “stone heap graves.”
Interestingly, the English word “dolmen” also derives from the combination of “dol” (stone) and “men” (table/flat stone) from the Breton language in Western Europe.
This similarity is not merely linguistic coincidence.
Some researchers speculate that megalithic traditions may have originated in East Asia and gradually spread westward across Central Asia and into Europe.
Supporting points include:
- Korea’s dolmens are older in some cases than their European counterparts
- The sheer volume and complexity of Korean dolmens surpass those elsewhere
- The migratory routes of early humans plausibly connect these distant cultures
While the idea remains a hypothesis, it’s a compelling one:
Could the ancient concept of the dolmen—the “dolmaengi”—have begun in Korea and traveled west, eventually evolving into the dolmen of Europe?
6. Dolmens and the Korean Spirit
To Koreans, dolmens are more than archaeological sites.
They are monuments to ancestors, identity, and the enduring spirit of a people who looked to both the heavens and the earth.
They represent an ancient worldview that embraced:
- Life and death as a continuum
- Nature as sacred space
- Community effort in honoring the departed
Today, these megaliths continue to challenge and inspire us:
“What kind of stones are we building in our own time?”
References
- Cultural Heritage Administration, Republic of Korea
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- National Museum of Korea: “Prehistoric Korea and Dolmen Exhibition”
- Korea Journal of Archaeology: “Dolmens and Megalithic Monuments: An Asian Perspective”
- Yujeon Cho et al., The Distribution and Analysis of Prehistoric Sites in Korea, Korean Archaeological Societyĺ
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