Banggirialbawi

Albawi means "rock with egg-shaped holes". These holes were made by first pecking the stone surface to rough out the shape and then smoothing it by rotational friction; they are also known as seonghyeol, or cup-marks. They are mainly carved into the capstones of dolmens or into natural rock outcrops, and are commonly called "egg-holes" or "egg-rock". Cup-marks are thought to symbolise the sun or female genitalia, and are interpreted as expressions of a wish for fertility and abundance. The development of agriculture in the Bronze Age required a larger population and greater yields at the same time, and it is presumed that this led to the expression of ritual beliefs praying for fertility and abundance. Banggiri Albawi stands on a small hill at the entrance to Habang village in Banggiri, and is notable for having cup-marks carved into several untouched, natural rocks. Some of the cup-marks are arranged in concentric circles, and some are joined by carved lines, features not seen anywhere else. A single rock typically bears ten or more cup-marks, and some bear fifty or more. The cup-marks are circular, 5 to 15cm in diameter and 3 to 10cm deep, in the shape of a half egg, and are generally well preserved. The site appears to be related to the Bronze Age village remains excavated at Banggiri and at Sinpyeong, Yangsan, in 1996. It is thought that people of the time used this place as a ritual site to pray for the village's prosperity and peace.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Ulju, Ulsan

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물