7,000 years ago, off the coast of Ulsan, ancient hunters pursued a massive whale from a small boat, armed with sharp harpoons made from deer antlers. The harpoons were thrown into the waves, aimed at the whale.
While the exact details of that struggle remain unknown, the discovery of whale bones thousands of years later reveals clear evidence of that moment.
A harpoon tip made from deer antler was found embedded deep within the whale's bones.
This artifact, unearthed at the Hwangseong-dong site, has been designated as a national folk cultural heritage under the name 'Deer Antler Harpoon Tip Embedded in Whale Bone.'
The artifact was discovered with the harpoon tip embedded in the whale's shoulder blade and vertebrae. Its significance is heightened by the fact that it remains attached to the actual hunting target, the whale bone.
This finding serves as tangible evidence that Neolithic people in Ulsan hunted whales, despite the absence of written records from that era.
The Hwangseong-dong artifact was revealed during an archaeological survey in 2009 at the site of a road connecting to the Ulsan New Port. Recognized for its academic value, it was designated as a cultural heritage by Ulsan City, and its status has now been elevated to a national folk cultural heritage.
The previous name 'Whale Bone with Harpoon Tip' has been changed to 'Deer Antler Harpoon Tip Embedded in Whale Bone' for clarity regarding the material and purpose of the artifact.
The significance of this artifact becomes even clearer when viewed alongside the petroglyphs at Bangudae.
The Bangudae petroglyphs, a UNESCO World Heritage site, depict scenes of whale hunting using boats and harpoons. The rock carvings show people pursuing whales, while the Hwangseong-dong site has yielded the actual harpoon tip embedded in whale bones.
Together, the images and the physical evidence create a cohesive narrative that transcends thousands of years.
While the Bangudae petroglyphs record the experiences of prehistoric people with whales and whale hunting, the Hwangseong-dong artifact provides concrete evidence that such whaling culture existed in their daily lives.
The designation of this artifact as a national heritage is not merely about elevating its cultural status. It acknowledges the value of the prehistoric people's lives and technologies, who crafted tools from deer antlers and ventured into the sea to confront massive whales.
An official from Ulsan City stated, "The Bangudae petroglyphs and the artifacts from Hwangseong-dong are important cultural assets that showcase Ulsan's prehistoric whaling culture. We will actively utilize these two heritages to promote Ulsan's unique history and culture."
The struggle of ancient hunters off the coast of Ulsan 7,000 years ago was not recorded in writing.
Instead, the rock carvings depict scenes of whale hunting, and the earth has revealed whale bones with harpoon tips made from deer antlers.
These traces have now become a record of prehistoric life that is preserved by the nation, transcending the status of mere ancient artifacts.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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