Petroglyphs of Janggi-ri, Goryeong

These are petroglyphs carved into a rock face 3 m high and 6 m wide at the entrance to Alteo Village. Such rock carvings are also called petroglyphs (amgakhwa): images that prehistoric people carved into large rocks or other sacred places to express their thoughts and wishes. Petroglyphs worldwide are relics associated with northern cultural spheres, and can be regarded as material that reveals the origins and migrations of the Korean people. The carvings include concentric circles, cross shapes and mask-like designs. There are four concentric circles, each a triple ring 18–20 cm in diameter; these are thought to symbolise the sun and represent a sun god. The cross shape is drawn inside an indistinct rectangle 15 cm wide and 12 cm high, forming the shape of the character 田 (field), which appears to represent the living territory of a tribal community. The mask-like shapes, 22–30 cm wide and 20–40 cm high, depict hair and beard-like fur, with facial features carved inside to represent a human face, apparently engraved with a meaning similar to that of a talisman. Together, these appear to express the beliefs of an agricultural society that built altars using symbols and signs and prayed to the sun god for good harvests. Judging from the stone tools and pottery excavated from the nearby Geumsallyeong stone tool site and dolmen sites, the petroglyphs are presumed to have been made in the late Bronze Age (300–0 BC). They are valuable material for the study of prehistoric culture, including the beliefs and social life of prehistoric people, and are also prized as source material for the study of the history of sculpture and painting.

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Visiting

Information

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Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Goryeong, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물