Maximum Dense Distribution

     

     

     


    400 dolmens at 50 groups were densely distributed around 5km semi-diameter centering around the Hwasun Dolmen Group.  About 1,323 dolmens at 160 groups were distributed in Hwasun-gun.  It has the highest density in the inland area of Jeonnam and the largest distribution.  It has the highest density in unit area, compared to 1200 dolmens at Gochang, Jeonbuk and 80 dolmens at Ganghwa, Incheon.

     

     

     Distribution of Super Dolmens

     

     

     


    There are several large base type dolmens over 100 tons in Hwasun.  It has the maximum scaled stone offertory table in front of a tomb, which weighs 280 tons.  Dolmens 7.3m long, 5.0m wide and 4.0m thick(24.3ft×16.7ft×13.3ft) at Daeshin-ri, Chunyang-myeon weigh 280 tons and those 5.3m long, 3.6m wide(24.3ft×16.7ft×13.3ft)and 3.0m(17.6ft×12ft×10ft) thick at Hyosan-ri, Dogok-myeon weigh over 100 tons.  There is a dolmen group 7.1m long, 3.0m wide (23.7ft×10ft)  thick at Daegok-ri, Dogok-myeon.

     

     
      

    Discovery of Quarry

     

     

     


    The greatest feature of the dolmen is the capstone.  This capstone is made of natural rock, but it is mostly obtained from a base rock.  A quarry of capstone at Hyosan-ri dolmen relics, Dogok-myeon was discovered at the foot of the mountain above the dolmen group.  As there remained stone materials left in the process of quarrying, the process of quarrying the stone offertory table in front of a tomb can be observed and erection of dolmens can be examined at a glance because there were the diverse dolmens under the quarry.

     

     
     

    Coexistence of Diverse Types of Dolmens

     

     

     


    There was no certain table type dolmen in Hwasun, but similar types of dolmens were discovered in dolmens at Hyosan-ri and Daeshin-ri.  While the largest table type dolmens of South Korea were found at Ganghwa, Incheon and Gochang, Jeonbuk, dolmens in Hwasun were the ground stone coffin type with several supporting stones, base type of Paduk-board form and non-slate type without supporting stone.

     

     

     Confirmation of Burial Custom and Erection Year

     

     

     


    Grave rooms where the dead bodies were laid was confirmed in dolmens at Daeshin-ri, Chunyang-myeon, Hwasun and all kinds of stone tools, red ground earthenwares and Minmuni earthenwares were discovered.   Relics in the Bronze Age such as Cheodonggum (a kind of bronze sword), Paljuryeong and bronze mirror were excavated at Jeokseok wood coffin tomb.

    Dolmens at Daeshin-ri, Hwasun showed that their radiocarbon dating was 2500±80 B.C  and these dolmens were erected in 2500 B.C.  Also it is assumed that the earthenwares having Samgak gate and Jeomyeol gate at the mouth of the earthenwares excavated under the quarry belonged to the 9th or 10th century B.C.  Therefore, it is assumed that the Hwasun dolmens were erected from about 3000 B.C.

     

     

    Well Preserved Condition

     

     

     


    Since dolmen groups in Hwasun were discovered recently (1996) and Hwasun was not developed yet, they have relatively well preserved conditions.  These dolmen groups have better preservation conditions than other relics in Gochang and Ganghwa because they are scattered along the foot of the mountains with a valley 10km(6.3mile) long and are located near pine trees.

     

     

    Discovery of Local Rulers' Tombs

     

     

     


    There is a Jeokseok Wood Coffin Tomb at Daegok-ri, Hwasun where the Bronze Age relics, the National Treasure No. 143, were excavated 2km(1.26mile) away from the Hwasun Dolmen Group.  These relics were the tombs of rulers who governed the ritual services and politics at this region.

    - Refer to ¡ºScientific Theses related to Dolmen (Hwasun-gun, Hwasun Culture Center)¡»