Goindols and Prehistoric East Asian Life: The Secret Landscape of Dolmens on the Korean Peninsula

Megalithic cultures have spread to every location in which there are traces of prehistoric humans on earth. The Korean Peninsula is no exception. The different types of menhir, cromlechs (stone circles), and stone images are not currently popular in English literature. However, approximately 40,000 dolmens (out of 60,000 worldwide) are in this region alone. Indeed, megaliths have been found all over Korea, including the Jeju and Ulleung Islands. Additionally, historical and cultural studies suggest that these sacred sites and their stones are relics dating from at least the late (East Asian) Neolithic Age to the late Bronze Age (c. 3100–300 BCE). Dolmen shapes are divided into table-style, draughtboard-style, and open-style, with the three dolmens of Hwasun, Gochang, and Ganghwa Island even recognized as a World Heritage (UNESCO) site. This article explores the socio-cultural map of the Korean dolmens. It also argues that the dolmens’ purpose (e.g., tombs, Feng-Shui, and ritual), their application of cup-marks (leadership, astrology, and healing), and ancient Korean history have significant implications for understanding the prehistoric East Asian life of Gojoseon (2333–108 BCE).