Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream

Brief synthesis The property is located along the Bangucheon Stream on the south-eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. It extends for approximately three kilometres along this meandering waterway, in a landscape of stratified cliffs. Within this specific setting, there are two rock panels with remarkable concentrations of petroglyphs namely, the Daegok-ri Petroglyphs and the Cheonjeon-ri Petroglyphs. The petroglyphs depict a wide range of images engraved by successive generations of local artists, using stone and metal tools, spanning a period from the prehistoric to the historic eras, from 5,000 BCE to the 9th century CE. The animals, human figures, hunting scenes, concentric circles, diamonds and writing carved into the rock show great realism and dynamism, while displaying a specific composition of figurative images and epigraphs. In particular, the petroglyphs representing animals, both aquatic and land-based, present a level of detail that makes it possible to discern the precise species of each animal. These various images and inscriptions are an exceptional demonstration of this long tradition of rock engraving, extending from the Neolithic period through the Bronze Age and up to the Silla period. Criterion (i): The Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream display a wide range of images executed with great artistic mastery over the course of millennia by the coastal inhabitants of East Asia. The acute sense of observation reflected in the realistic depictions of various motifs and their specific compositions demonstrate the exceptional aesthetic sense of these artists. Their creativity is particularly evocative in prehistoric images depicting whales and certain stages of whaling, a subject only rarely represented in rock art around the world. Criterion (iii): The Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream attest to a tradition of rock carving that was practised for approximately 6,000 years within the landscape formed by the Bangucheon Stream. These rock carvings are exceptional because they demonstrate a complex form of artistic expression and concisely illustrate the cultural evolution of the coastal inhabitants of the peninsula over this long period. Integrity The property includes all of the attributes that convey its Outstanding Universal Value. A dam constructed outside the southern boundary of the buffer zone has, in the past, created significant environmental pressures on one part of the petroglyphs of the property, but its negative impact has now been largely mitigated. Authenticity The property retains a high level of authenticity in its form and design, its materials and substance, location and setting. The dam outside the buffer zone caused some degree of topographical transformation, but this has been restored. Overall, the attributes expressing the Outstanding Universal Value of the property have been kept virtually intact until today. Protection and management requirements The property is protected under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act and other relevant laws, such as the Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act and the Forest Protection Act. The property and its buffer zone are designated nationally as protected areas (under the category of Scenic Site). The two rock panels that have a high concentration of petroglyphs are also listed as National Treasures. Conservation and restoration projects for the property are carried out by specialist institutes and nationally certified professionals in order to preserve its integrity and authenticity. The local government has established a dedicated property management body that is responsible for drawing up an integrated management plan, coordinating inputs from various stakeholders, and performing other tasks related to the management of the property. The local government is working to control the environmental pressures on one part of the property, particularly with regard to the potential drying out of the Daegok-ri panel due to the redevelopment of the Sayeon Dam. The central and local governments continuously monitor a number of physical and biological parameters to ensure that the state of conservation of the property is maintained.