SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has finalized the inscription of a series of ancient Korean rock carvings onto its World Heritage list, recognizing the sites as significant historical and artistic treasures.
The petroglyphs, discovered in the 1970s, offer a vivid glimpse into the lives of the early inhabitants of the Korean Peninsula.
Located on the cliffs of the Bangudae Stream, a tributary of the Taehwa River in Ulsan, the carvings are situated on a rock face approximately 4.5 meters high and 8 meters wide. They feature dense depictions of marine and terrestrial animals, as well as hunting scenes.
The site is notable for what is believed to be the world’s oldest depiction of whale hunting. A total of 312 carvings have been identified at this location.
Two kilometers away, a second site features another set of carvings on a rock surface measuring roughly 2.7 meters high and 10 meters wide. This panel contains more than 620 etchings, including various shapes, symbols and drawings.
Abstract patterns, such as diamonds and circles, are thought to date to the Bronze Age, while inscriptions believed to have been left during the Silla Dynasty are also present.
The inclusion of these petroglyphs brings Korea’s total number of UNESCO World Heritage sites to 17, comprising 15 cultural heritage sites and two natural heritage sites.
reporter
Cho Bo-hee
jobo@ajupress.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
View more comments