Cultural Remains > Cultural Assets > World
Cultural Heritage, Hwasun Dolmen
A dolmen is a grave
at the prehistoric age and a kind
of megalithic monument. It is
distributed all over the world
and Korea is its center. There
are about 19,000 only in Jeonnam.
Hwasun is a representative center
of dolmen and has about 2,000.
Since 1988, the dolmen in Hwasun
was designated as cultural asset.
Process
of designation
- Sept. 17, 1998 The dolmens were designated
as Historic Relic No. 410 - July 1998
They were registered in potential registration
of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. -
June 28, 1999 They applied for UNESCO
World Cultural Heritage to register.
- Dec. 2, 2000 They were registered
officially in UNESCO World Heritage.
Features
of Hwasun Dolmen
Collective tight
formation in a small area.
A tens of dolmens have 100-ton
upper stone in weight. There are
extra-large dolmens of 280 tons.
A quarry remains to show the process
of building dolmens.
Surrounding natural environment
is well-preserved.
Expected
effect
Making tourism resource was extended
in connection with 2001 Visit Korea
campaign and the Gwangju Biennale.
With the well preservation of dolmens
and maintenance of archeological value
in the prehistoric age, tourism will
increase, contributing to the increase
in local income and vitalization of
local economy.
