Cheonjeon-ri Petroglyphs
Cheonjeon-ri Rock Art · Ulsan Cheonjeon Petroglyphs · Cheonjeon-ri Bangudae Adjacent
Neolithic 4000 BCE → Bronze Age → Silla 6th–9th c CE·Korean Neolithic → Bronze Age → Silla (Unified Silla)·🇰🇷 Ulsan Metropolitan City, Ulju County, Dudong and Eonyang area, Cheonjeon-ri valley on Daegok-cheon tributary of Taehwa River, 30 km west of Ulsan city, South Korea
About
About Cheonjeon-ri Petroglyphs
Cheonjeon-ri — Neolithic–Silla rock art panel (c.4000 BCE–9th c CE palimpsest) 30 km west Ulsan, Ulju County, Daegok-cheon stream bank, excavated 1970–73 Mun Myeong-dae. Cheonjeon-ri rock face 2.7×9.5 m with 620+ engravings: Early Neolithic rhombus and animals, Bronze Age daggers, Silla 6th c inscription of 100 officials (Silla King Jinheung retinue), and 9th c Buddhist carvings, in 10 layers. Companion to Bangudae petroglyphs 1.2 km downstream. Demonstrates 5000-year Korean rock art continuity from prehistoric hunting to Silla state. UNESCO tentative (Bangudae–Cheonjeon group).
Why it mattersLongest Korean rock art palimpsest — 5000-year sequence with Silla state inscription and Neolithic hunting art
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rhombus motif — shamanic or clan mark?
Theories
- 01Cheonjeon–Bangudae as shamanic hunting magic sanctuary
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.4000 BCE Neolithic rhombus; palimpsest to 9th c CE Silla
- Period
- Neolithic 4000 BCE → Bronze Age → Silla 6th–9th c CE
- Culture
- Korean Neolithic → Bronze Age → Silla (Unified Silla)
- Builders
- Korean rock art carvers → Silla scribes
- Purpose
- River valley petroglyph sanctuary documenting 5000-year hunting, ritual and Silla state inscription
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.4000 BCE
Neolithic rhombus and deer engraved
c.1000 BCE
Bronze Age dagger and geometric added
6th c CE
Silla King Jinheung retinue inscription 100 officials
1970
Mun Myeong-dae discovery; 1973 protection
On the ground
Structures & features
35.5940° N · 129.1260° E · 60 m · 2 mapped features
Lower Neolithic Rhombus and Deer Panel
rock artLowest layer rhombus and deer hunt scene 4000 BCE at base of rock
35.5950° N · 129.1252° ESilla Court Inscription Panel (6th c CE)
inscriptionSilla 6th c inscription of 100 officials and 9th c Buddhist carvings at top
35.5925° N · 129.1271° E