Numerous
ancient rock engravings of whales and whaling still remain in
the southeast area of the Korea Peninsula, attracting archeologists from around
the world. It has been suggested that they are the first pieces of evidence
showing the prehistoric origins of whaling. These petroglyphs are found in
Bangudae in the upper reaches of the Taehwagang River near Ulsan in
Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang Province). Nearly 300 figures showing land
and sea animals, as well as whale-hunting scenes, are found engraved into the
wall over an area spanning 10 meters by 3 meters.
The name Bangudae
comes from the Korean
ban, the word for a carapace or a shell,
gu,
meaning a turtle, and
dae, a structure or a site, as in a carving site;
the rock formation itself is said to resemble the back of a turtle.
The
petroglyphs of Bangudae recently came under the spotlight with the February
edition of Current World Archaeology, a U.K.-based magazine devoted to
archaeological finds. Based on his visit to Bangudae, archeologist professor
Brian Fagan published a three-page article, “Discovering a Lost World,” in which
he relates his observations about the engravings.
He concluded his
article by saying, “The Bangudae engravings remind us of the remarkable skills
of such ancient whale hunters, who attacked the world’s largest beasts with the
simplest of weapons, relying on their knowledge of their prey and acute
observational skills, as well as complex, now forgotten, rituals that provided
powerful validation for the chase.”
The petroglyphs of Bangudae, engravings of
around 300 figures, are a prehistoric cultural asset from the Neolithic Age,
showing that the people who lived here mainly fished and hunted for a living.
Being one of the rarer examples of prehistoric art, the engravings have
attracted the attention of both the archeology and arts scenes. (photo: Yonhap
News)
The petroglyphs of Bangudae were discovered in 1971. The
figures engraved on the rock wall include humans, various types of
animals—whales, turtles, deer, tigers, birds and pigs—and weapons, including a
bow and a spear. Researchers believe that the engravings were completed over
several centuries, from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Among these are 58
engravings of whales and whaling that have attracted the most attention. The
petroglyphs show a diverse range of whales, including one that’s bearing a calf.
Researchers believe them to symbolize an active hunting culture, prosperity and
abundance. Along with the figures, whale hunting skills are shown in the ancient
works of art, too.
Until the discovery of Bangudae, it was believed that
whaling began in Norway in around 4,000 B.C., according to the rock carvings in
the Norwegian town of Alta. However, in 2004, the BBC reported that, “Stone Age
people may have started hunting whales as early as 6,000 B.C., new evidence from
South Korea suggests.” This grabbed the attention of media and archeologists
from across the globe.
The figures of animals can be seen in
highlights of the petroglyphs of Bangudae.
Since their discovery,
the petroglyphs of Bangudae have been considered an important resource that
gives a peek into the values, ideas and religions of mankind from a time before
recorded history began. Oceanographer Daniel Robineau, in his book, “Une
Histoire de la chasse a la baleine,” or, “A History of Whale Hunting,” published
in 2007, said that the first whale hunting began in Korea, as shown in the
petroglyphs.
French archaeologist and film maker Marc Azéma said the
Korean petroglyphs could have possibly been the inspiration for his concept of a
movie in his book, "La Prehistoire du cinema,” or, “Cinema in Prehistoric
Times.” In 2013, the rock carvings stepped into the spotlight again when the
French journal Archeologie described the art work as a moving object, such as a
movie or cartoon.
The February edition of Current World
Archeology introduces the petroglyphs of Bangudae.
Director Lee
Sang-mog of the Ulsan Petroglyph Museum said that there have been a number of
requests to use the carvings over recent years. “A growing number of researchers
and scholars seem to be studying the petroglyphs from a variety of perspectives,
whether it be looking into the mythologies surrounding the artwork or whether it
be its artistic merits.
source:korea.net
