A Bronze Age Megaproject
On Ganghwa Island stands a monumental tomb from the Korean Bronze Age, roughly the 1st millennium BCE. The Bugeun-ri dolmen, the largest of its kind in South Korea, is a table-type tomb, a form defined by two or more large vertical stones holding up a massive capstone. This particular capstone is a colossal slab of migmatite gneiss measuring approximately 7.1 meters long and 5.5 meters wide. Its weight is estimated at between 50 and 80 metric tons. The two supporting stones are made of different rock types: mica schist and granitic gneiss.
Transporting and erecting such a structure required immense effort and organization. The construction of dolmens is closely linked to the start of agricultural societies, which could support the large, coordinated labor force needed for such projects. Archaeological experiments and analysis suggest that Bronze Age builders used systems of wooden rollers and sledges, along with earthen ramps, to move the stones from a quarry and lever them into position. Based on these reconstructions, mobilizing a stone of this size would have required a crew of more than 500 people. The ability to command such a workforce points to a complex and stratified society with a powerful ruling class able to direct large-scale public works.