South Korea's ancient Petroglyphs gain UNESCO World Heritage status

SEOUL: A set of prehistoric rock carvings in southeastern South Korea has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage list, the country's cultural agency announced on Saturday.

The decision was made during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Paris, where the "Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream" were formally recognised for their outstanding cultural value.

Carved into vertical cliff faces along the Bangucheon Stream, a tributary of the Taehwa River in Ulsan, some 360 kilometres southeast of Seoul, the petroglyphs depict hunting scenes and animals believed to date back to the prehistoric era.

The inscription had been widely expected after the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to UNESCO, recommended the listing in May. A recommendation from ICOMOS is generally seen as preliminary approval for World Heritage status.

Based on the ICOMOS review, the committee said the petroglyphs offer outstanding testimony to a tradition of rock art that spanned some 6,000 years.

It noted that the realistic depictions and distinctive compositions, based on keen observation, highlight the artistic skills of the people who once lived on the Korean Peninsula. The carvings are "masterpieces created through the creativity of prehistoric people," the committee added.

With the latest addition, South Korea now has 17 entries on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The newly inscribed property comprises two major panels: the Bangudae petroglyphs in Daegok-ri and the Cheonjeon-ri petroglyphs, both considered rare and significant examples of early human artistic expression in East Asia.

The Daegok-ri panel, often referred to as the "Bangudae petroglyphs," is the largest rock art site on the Korean Peninsula, stretching over 30 meters. The carvings are mainly concentrated on a rock face about 4.5 meters high and eight meters wide, including images of sea and land animals, and hunting scenes.

The Cheonjeon-ri petroglyphs are located about 2 kilometres from the Daegok-ri site. It was discovered in 1970, one year ahead of the Daegok-ri site, containing over 620 figures, symbols and drawings engraved along a rock surface -- about 2.7 meters high and 10 meters wide. It is now the country's National Treasure No. 147, reported Yonhap news agency.

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