Gyeongju Seokjang-dong Petroglyphs

Petroglyphs are images carved into the surface of a rock or cave wall, depicting symbols or the shapes of objects. These petroglyphs are carved on a rock face on the north side of the point where two streams crossing the Gyeongju plain meet. Presumed to date from prehistoric times, the carvings are cut into the upper part of a vertical cliff about 15 m above the river, covering an area roughly 2 m wide and 9 m high, and are rendered in abstract, geometric form. In all, 27 individual images have been identified: eight geometric patterns, eleven images incorporating elements of swords and spears, four footprints, three depictions of female genitalia, one boat, and others showing animal forms or images difficult to interpret. Though they vary slightly from one another, the images can broadly be divided into shield shapes, acorn shapes and flower shapes. Of these, the acorn- and flower-shaped images are not seen in rock art elsewhere, making them a distinctive feature unique to this region. In particular, the images combining a sword with female genitalia are thought to show strong influence from the rock art of Chilpo-ri.

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Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물