Gunbuk Dolmen Group, Haman

Jiseongmyo, also known as dolmens, are the representative tomb type of the Bronze Age and are known to have mainly been the graves of a ruling class with economic wealth or political power. Dolmens in Korea are divided into the table type, in which four support stones are set up to form a stone chamber topped with a huge flat capstone, and the go-board type, in which a stone chamber is built underground with small support stones set beneath a capstone placed on top. In the Gunbuk-myeon area of Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, large numbers of dolmens are clustered together, including 27 at Dongchon-ri and 5 at Deokdae-ri. Of the dolmens at Dongchon-ri, 16 remain in their original position, 10 have been relocated, and 1 has been buried, so that on the whole they are in good condition. The capstone of Dolmen No. 26 among these bears a total of 398 cup marks, which, when linked together, give the impression of representing a constellation. The purpose of these cup marks is not certainly known, but they are thought to have been made in the hope of a good harvest or of bearing children. Five dolmens in all were found at Deokdae-ri, and the area around Dolmen No. 4 is well known as a place where kaolin clay was formerly extracted. A number of artefacts dating from that period, including a polished stone dagger and red pottery, are said to have been excavated here.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Haman, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물