Rock Art-Paintings from the Prehistoric Age

[Narration]
Welcome to Daegaya Museum. A city-state called Dae Gaya was founded in 42A.D. and flourished here in Goryeong area. People were living in this area from the prehistoric age. They left their mark with rock art, which are paintings on the rock. Before there were letters, people used to express themselves through rock art. You’ll now listen to a conversation between the resident who found the rock art and a historian.

[Resident]
When I first saw this painting, I thought someone just scratched doodles on the wall. But when I looked carefully, I thought it was some kind of code… Here, what does this circle mean?

[Historian]
That circle symbolizes the sun.

[Resident]
Then, how about this square over here?

[Historian]
There are a few theories about this one. Some say that because of the lines around the square, it is the drawing of a village surrounded by a fence.

[Resident]
It looks like a cow, too.

[Historian]
In Korea’s agrarian society, people viewed cows as being sacred. That’s why some people also think that this is the painting of a cow’s face. Some also see it as a sword in a sheath, which can be interpreted as love between a man and woman. Ancient people probably drew the painting while wishing for prosperity and abundant harvest.

[Narration]
It is estimated that this rock art was produced in the late Bronze Age. This would mean that people lived in this region from the prehistoric age and formed their own unique culture.