Dolmen testimony to level of ancient architecture and astronomical knowledge of Korean nation
Date: 18/03/2023 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source
As a typical type of tomb in ancient states of Korea, including Ancient Joson, dolmen was built by making a tomb chamber on the ground or half underground by setting up whole plain rocks or heaping up rubble stones around it and covering it with a large plain rock weighing five to six tons, or even dozens of tons.
Dolmen is a megalithic structure the whole of which consists of rocks. It requires high stone-processing technology and developed architecture to complete such a tomb, including cutting off gigantic rock by certain sizes, processing them, carrying them over a long distance and laying them on the tomb chamber.
Odok-type dolmen can be cited as an example. As its tomb chamber is generally 250 centimetres high, it is not an easy job in terms of dynamics to put on the chamber a cover stone weighing 50 or 60 tons or even over 100 tons.
Over 14 000 dolmens are distributed in the Pyongyang area alone and many others can be found in the southern half of Korea and Northeast China.
Hundreds of such tombs have cover stones engraved with constellations.
Constellations are engraved on the cover stones of the dolmens in grooved holes shaped like glasses and cups by different sizes according to the degrees of stars’ brightness. Such holes are linked by grooved lines of different geometric figures, which are similar to the constellations of Chonsangryolchabunyajido (Astronomical Chart of the Spherical Cosmos) which was made in the early days of the feudal Joson dynasty on the basis of an astronomical chart carved on a stone from the period of Koguryo.
The constellations of innumerable celestial bodies in the night sky carved on the cover stones of dolmens can be claimed to be an astronomical chart carved on a stone. More than 200 such dolmens from the period of Ancient Joson were surveyed and confirmed in the Pyongyang area alone.
The constellations carved on the cover stones of dolmens testify to the high level of ancient Koreans’ astronomy as they are comparatively correct in shape and differences between measurements of their movements are not large.
Dolmen is a valuable cultural heritage element which proves ancient Koreans’ high level of architecture and astronomical knowledge.
More From Pyongyang Times
A department director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the German ambassador to Iran on January 29 to denounce and reject
February 06, 2026
A department director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the German ambassador to Iran on January 29 to denounce and reject
The 2026 National Winter Games opened with due ceremony at the ice hockey gymnasium of the Mt Paektu area sports village in
February 06, 2026
The 2026 National Winter Games opened with due ceremony at the ice hockey gymnasium of the Mt Paektu area sports village in
The prime minister of Qatar visited Iran on January 31 to discuss the issue of regional peace and stability at the time when the
February 06, 2026
The prime minister of Qatar visited Iran on January 31 to discuss the issue of regional peace and stability at the time when the
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2026 International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament "Ivan Yarygin Cup" held in
February 06, 2026
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2026 International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament "Ivan Yarygin Cup" held in
New public and production buildings have appeared at the Taechong Farm in Unpha County of North Hwanghae Province, giving a
February 06, 2026
New public and production buildings have appeared at the Taechong Farm in Unpha County of North Hwanghae Province, giving a
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea worked out a yearly plan for building 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year
February 06, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea worked out a yearly plan for building 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year
The vice-minister of the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified the stand to resolutely cope with the US’ military threat on January 2
February 05, 2026
The vice-minister of the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified the stand to resolutely cope with the US’ military threat on January 2
Protest actions were staged simultaneously in different parts of the US against the murderous immigration policy of the
February 05, 2026
Protest actions were staged simultaneously in different parts of the US against the murderous immigration policy of the
Natural disasters have brought misfortunes and sufferings to people in any era and any country. But the reality in the DPRK is
February 05, 2026
Natural disasters have brought misfortunes and sufferings to people in any era and any country. But the reality in the DPRK is
The construction for the regional development policy in 2026 began with due ceremonies in the area of the Sinuiju Combined
February 05, 2026
The construction for the regional development policy in 2026 began with due ceremonies in the area of the Sinuiju Combined
Schoolchildren in South Hwanghae Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art theatre on February 2. Present there were
February 05, 2026
Schoolchildren in South Hwanghae Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art theatre on February 2. Present there were
A national photo exhibition, "Under the uplifted banner of self-reliance", was opened in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary
February 04, 2026
A national photo exhibition, "Under the uplifted banner of self-reliance", was opened in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Nampho Municipality met with heroes at the Nampho Municipal Art Theatre
February 04, 2026
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Nampho Municipality met with heroes at the Nampho Municipal Art Theatre
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a flower basket and a congratulatory letter from the military attaches corps in
February 04, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a flower basket and a congratulatory letter from the military attaches corps in
Different countries are intensifying efforts to jointly cope with the arbitrariness and military pressure of the West.In mid-Janua
February 04, 2026
Different countries are intensifying efforts to jointly cope with the arbitrariness and military pressure of the West.In mid-Janua
Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested its citizens to refrain from travelling to Japan in the period of
February 04, 2026
Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested its citizens to refrain from travelling to Japan in the period of
Modern houses have been built at the Kayang Farm in Unnyul County of South Hwanghae Province and the Kyejong Farm in Kumchon
February 04, 2026
Modern houses have been built at the Kayang Farm in Unnyul County of South Hwanghae Province and the Kyejong Farm in Kumchon
South Hamgyong Province has successfully built the Kyongpho Children’s Camp at an excellent place on the coast of the East Sea.The
February 04, 2026
South Hamgyong Province has successfully built the Kyongpho Children’s Camp at an excellent place on the coast of the East Sea.The
Now in midwinter, ice rinks across the DPRK are crowded with people. The same is the case with the open-air ice rink in downtown
February 04, 2026
Now in midwinter, ice rinks across the DPRK are crowded with people. The same is the case with the open-air ice rink in downtown
The General Bureau of the Tanchon Area Mining Industry fulfilled its national economic plan for the first month of the new year.
February 03, 2026
The General Bureau of the Tanchon Area Mining Industry fulfilled its national economic plan for the first month of the new year.
More Articles
