When the International Council on Monuments and Sites was registered, the final decision was made in Paris, France in July, Korea’s 17th World Heritage Site
Ulsan Bangucheon Petroglyphs with prehistoric whales and various animals carved on rocks are expected to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Heritage Administration said on the 26th, “We were notified by the UNESCO World Heritage Center of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO advisory review body for the ‘petroglyphs of Hemisphere Stream’, and the ‘recommendation’ of the World Heritage List.”
Heritage sites that have been recommended for registration will be listed as World Heritage sites unless something unexpected happens.
The official name “Petroglyphsong the Bangucheon Stream” encompasses the national treasure “Ulju Daegok-ri Bangudae Petroglyphs” and the national treasure “Ulju Cheonjeon-ri Prestigious and Petroglyphs.”
“The realistic paintings and unique compositions based on excellent observation show the artistry of the people who lived on the Korean Peninsula, and the creativity of prehistoric people to unravel rare themes containing various whale and major stages of whaling, and it is unique evidence that proves the tradition of petroglyph that has lasted about 6,000 years since prehistoric times and shows the development of the culture of people in the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula,” Ikomos said.
The Bangudae petroglyph in Daegok-ri, Ulju, discovered in 1971, is commonly referred to as the “Hemisphere petroglyph”. It is located on the cliff of Bangucheon Stream, a tributary river upstream of the Taehwa River, and is filled with sea animals, land animals, and hunting pictures on the rock surface of about 4.5m high and 8m wide. It is also well known as the oldest painting of whale hunting. The delicately carved paintings, as if observing the movements of the whale herd, include whales that have been shot with a harpoon and whales carrying or carrying their young.
Cheonjeon-ri’s inscription and petroglyphs are about 2km away from Bangudae petroglyphs in Daegok-ri. Its existence was first known in 1970, a year before the discovery of the Bangudae petroglyph, and more than 620 figures, writings, and paintings are engraved along the rock face of about 2.7m high and 9.8m wide.
According to the recommendation, the 47th World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Paris, France from July 6 to 16, will decide whether to list the “Half Stream Petroglyphs,” the National Heritage Administration said. “If the registration is confirmed, Korea will have a total of 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”
