Selected as Candidate for World Heritage Registration
Final Application to be Submitted in January Next Year
Ulsan's 'Bangudae Petroglyphs' has passed the final domestic hurdle for UNESCO World Heritage inscription.
On the 13th, the Cultural Heritage Administration selected 'Bangudae Petroglyphs' as a candidate for World Heritage inscription at the World Heritage Subcommittee meeting held at the National Palace Museum of Korea. It was provisionally listed in 2010 and granted representative status after more than 13 years.
To become a candidate for inscription, a site must go through the steps of being on the tentative list, priority inscription list, and nomination candidate list in order. 'Bangudae Petroglyphs' was selected as a nomination candidate in April.
The Cultural Heritage Administration and Ulsan City will submit a draft nomination dossier to the World Heritage Centre by September. The final nomination dossier is planned to be submitted in January next year.
'Bangudae Petroglyphs' collectively refers to the national treasures 'Ulju Cheonjeon-ri Engraved Stones' and 'Ulju Daegok-ri Bangudae Petroglyphs.' The former is a rock on the midstream bank of Daegokcheon with various shapes, writings, and drawings engraved. It realistically depicts life scenes from the prehistoric era to the Silla period.
The latter is an 'L'-shaped cliff rock (4m high and 10m wide) engraved with various drawings. Using lines and dots, it vividly depicts animals such as tigers, wild boars, and deer, as well as hunting scenes. It is regarded as a masterpiece that offers insight into prehistoric culture on the Korean Peninsula. Particularly, the parts depicting whales struck by harpoons and whales carrying or nursing calves express the creativity of prehistoric people and are considered to have great cultural value.
The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "This heritage was created by people living on the East Asian coastal region of the Korean Peninsula, who drew various themes three-dimensionally based on excellent observational skills." It added, "The diverse drawings and writings remaining on the rock surface provide unique evidence that the tradition of petroglyph creation has continued for about 6,000 years," and evaluated it as having "Outstanding Universal Value" as a World Heritage.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Cultural Heritage Committee decided to submit a preliminary evaluation request for 'The Capital Fortress of Hanyang'?one of the nomination candidates?to the World Heritage Centre in September. The preliminary evaluation newly introduced by UNESCO is a process in which advisory bodies and the concerned country discuss together from the early stages of preparing a nomination.
World Heritage is a system established to fundamentally prevent the destruction or damage of universal human heritage and to encourage international cooperation and activities for heritage protection.
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