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In Korea there are hundreds of dolmens.
More than 40% of the world's dolmens are found in Korea. It is
believed that they date back from the seventh century BC, as is the case in
Kochang, to around the third century BC.
There are two main types of dolmens. The table type, where a flat
stone is supported by three or four standing stones. In the second type, the
supportive stones are partially underground.
There are three major groups of dolmens in Korea. The
Kochang dolmen site contains the largest dolmens. The capstones weigh hundreds
of tons. The second group is found along the Jiseokgang river and
is named the Hwasun site. These dolmens are less well preserved. The third group
is on the Ganghwa island. Here the largest dolmen of all is
located.
The great resemblance
to the dolmens in Ireland,
the United Kingdom and
France suggests transatlantic contact during ancient times.
However, the peculiar thing is that those dolmens are placed in a more remote epoch.
It is
ridiculous to suggest that dolmens were ever used as tombs, given their peculiar
shapes. They look more like shelters against
violence coming from above.
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