Taedonggang Culture

In the valley of the Taedong River centring on Pyongyang were excavated lots of cultural remains and relics including lute-shaped daggers and spearheads characteristic of the culture of the period of Tangun’s Joson, tombs in which slaves were buried alive with their head masters, star-shaped and crescent axes and other stone weapons, the site of Hwangdae Fort and dolmens.

The tomb with slaves buried alive together with their dead master unearthed in Ryongsan-ri consists of ten small chambers for about 30 slaves around the master’s large chamber.

The Hwangdae Fort in Kangdong County, where the Mausoleum of Tangun is located, is about 300m in circumference, 10m wide at the bottom of the wall and 5m at the top.

According to the findings of excavation, there were over 14 000 dolmens in the Pyongyang area, and of them extra-big dolmens for slave owners amounted to 16. Gourd-shaped pots show the aspect of development of earthenware in those days.

The academic circles designated the unique culture which was created and developed in the valley of the Taedong River as Taedonggang Culture. The Taedonggang Culture made an outstanding contribution to ancient human civilization.