Now when Jeehee told me we were going to visit a group of rocks in the middle of Ganghwa island, a famous Korean tourist destination, you can probably see why I was a little unimpressed. If somebody told you that you had the choice between visiting the De-militarized Zone and a bunch of stones I think I could guess where you'd go. Wait...actually, I KNOW where you'd go! (Unless you're a keen geographer, geologist or have a rather unsual interest in rocks ;) ) However, the dolmen sites at Ganghwado offered me so much more than I expected. Firstly, I knew nothing about the prehistoric history of Korea, and the dolmen museum offered many interesting facts and figures about the megalithic period and the importance of these Korean sites today. Little did I know that we were actually visiting a UNESCO heritage site. As soon as I heard this, I quit with my moaning and dived in to join the experience.
Korea is actually famous for housing over 40-50% of the world's . And that's a large amount..over 30,000!! Dolmens can be found all over the world in all shapes and sizes, the the sheer quantity of them in Korea intrigues anthropologists, and archaeologists alike. Why should so many dolmens be found here? Is it due to their rich shamanistic, ritualistic heritage or another reason? This is still a question that intrigues many people today. Dolmens come in various shapes and sizes and look like large stone tables to the unknowing tourist. Professors claim the dolmens were built during the Neolithinc period and were used as burial chambers and ritualistic sites in which tribes would bury their nobility and pray to their ancestors.While we were at the dolmen sites, it was very difficult not to question the amazing construction effort that must have been made to build them. As you can see from the photos they dwarf us all! Especially the capstone!!! Within the dolmen centre you are able to view a variety of boards which explain in colourful and funny pictures (for those of us who don't read Korean) the construction of these sites by the Neolithic peoples within this period.
To make the dolmens site even more interesting, the landscape surrounding the dolmens is not one to forget. The reasonably flat plains looking onto the typically elegant Korean mountains, adds a pleasant calmness to your trip.You can also take a walk around the main dolmen site and view replics of various dolmens found around the world. However, I must admit these are only of miniscule proportions compared to the real thing. Although this may not be as intriguing as the two major dolmen sites themselves, it helps give the beginner dolmen enthusiast a better perspective. Who knows.maybe one day we will discover the reason why Korea has so many dolmens...I'm sure whatever the answer, it will make this already mystical country seem even more wonderful....
FOR THOSE KEEN ON VISITING THE DOLMEN SITES-
If you're keen on visting the dolmen sites yourself don't hesitate to check out the Korean tourism website or even the Ganghwa dolmen homepage: Visit Korea-Ganghwa page
There will be a festival to celebrate the dolmens in Ganghwa island from the 23rd to the 24th of October 2010- Ganghwa dolmen festival
For more information about the dolmen sites in Korea-
