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
Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic
March 11, 2026
Amid the continued tests of operational efficiency of the destroyer Choe Hyon of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, a strategic
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the
March 11, 2026
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the West’s policy hostile toward his country on March 5. The aim of the
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners
March 11, 2026
The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup is under way in Australia.Divided into three groups, twelve teams play league matches, and winners
A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry at a press conference on March 6 expressed the stand to safeguard the national
March 11, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry at a press conference on March 6 expressed the stand to safeguard the national
The Kazakh government recently announced a plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The plan reflects the
March 10, 2026
The Kazakh government recently announced a plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The plan reflects the
An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park in Pyongyang on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there
March 10, 2026
An event took place at the Rungna People’s Sports Park in Pyongyang on March 8 to mark the AFC Women’s Football Day.Present there
A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 18, the 116th International Women's Day.
March 10, 2026
A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 18, the 116th International Women's Day.
As the whole country is brimming with love and respect for and warm congratulations to the women who are building the bright
March 09, 2026
As the whole country is brimming with love and respect for and warm congratulations to the women who are building the bright
Greeting March 8, I, with my warmest feelings, extend congratulations to all our Korean women, for whom I have affection and respe
March 09, 2026
Greeting March 8, I, with my warmest feelings, extend congratulations to all our Korean women, for whom I have affection and respe
Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone called for developing agriculture by relying on their own efforts in a speech at a
March 09, 2026
Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone called for developing agriculture by relying on their own efforts in a speech at a
Mass rallies took place in cities and counties of the DPRK on March 6 and 7 to vow to implement the decisions of the Ninth
March 09, 2026
Mass rallies took place in cities and counties of the DPRK on March 6 and 7 to vow to implement the decisions of the Ninth
Enlarged plenary meetings of the Party committees of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Land and Maritime Transport, the
March 09, 2026
Enlarged plenary meetings of the Party committees of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Land and Maritime Transport, the
Enlarged plenary meetings of Pyongyang municipal and provincial committees of the Workers' Party of Korea were held on March 5 and
March 09, 2026
Enlarged plenary meetings of Pyongyang municipal and provincial committees of the Workers' Party of Korea were held on March 5 and
A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry rejected the US’ accusation that his country conducted a nuclear test before at a
March 08, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry rejected the US’ accusation that his country conducted a nuclear test before at a
Upon receiving the patriotic appeal of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, all the officials, Party members
March 08, 2026
Upon receiving the patriotic appeal of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, all the officials, Party members
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from
March 08, 2026
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from
Women's inexhaustible beauty can be said to be devotion. When their devotion is expressed to the country beyond the bounds of
March 08, 2026
Women's inexhaustible beauty can be said to be devotion. When their devotion is expressed to the country beyond the bounds of
The ginkgo trees in Kwail County in South Hwanghae Province are a pair of male and female ginkgo trees growing in the courtyard of
March 07, 2026
The ginkgo trees in Kwail County in South Hwanghae Province are a pair of male and female ginkgo trees growing in the courtyard of
There recently took place a meeting of the supreme state council of the Russia-Belarus allied state in Moscow. It was attended by
March 07, 2026
There recently took place a meeting of the supreme state council of the Russia-Belarus allied state in Moscow. It was attended by
Recently, a tragicomic accident happened in the sky above Texas, the US, where a drone of the US Customs and Border Protection was
March 07, 2026
Recently, a tragicomic accident happened in the sky above Texas, the US, where a drone of the US Customs and Border Protection was
More Articles
