Yeongcheon Boseongri Rock Carvings

About this place

Rock carvings are images of symbols, objects, or animals that prehistoric people carved into rock faces or cave walls, primarily considered the result of shamanistic practices praying for agricultural abundance and fertility. The Yeongcheon Boseongri rock carvings feature seven images incised into the side of a turtle-shaped rock. The carved surface measures a maximum length of 337 cm and a maximum width of 130 cm. Many of the designs follow the Goryeong Yangjeondong style—a tall rectangle with concave sides forming a bow shape, bisected by a horizontal line with two dots in each half—incised by pecking. They are similar to petroglyphs at Pohang Chiljeori, Goryeong Yangjeondong, and Yeongju Gaheungri, suggesting a shared cultural type. However, slight differences in the detailed form of each design may reflect different periods or regions. While difficult to date precisely, they are believed to belong to the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age, and are important material for understanding the way of life and spiritual world of the prehistoric inhabitants of the Gyeongbuk region.