4M Mammoth Nods; City Time Travels
- DAEGU, South Korea – Dalseo-gu, a district in Daegu, is drawing attention for its efforts to connect residents and tourists with the region's prehistoric roots.
- The story begins in July 2006, at a Wolseong-dong construction site. The Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Institute announced the discovery of Paleolithic-era ruins and artifacts, a first for Daegu.
- Prior to this find, ancient understanding placed the beginning of human habitation in Daegu at around 5,000 years ago.
Daegu’s Dalseo-gu Embraces Prehistoric Past with New Attractions
DAEGU, South Korea – Dalseo-gu, a district in Daegu, is drawing attention for its efforts to connect residents and tourists with the region’s prehistoric roots. Recent developments include new sculptures,themed streets,and a pedestrian bridge designed to evoke a sense of traveling back in time.
Paleolithic Discovery Rewrites Daegu’s History
The story begins in July 2006, at a Wolseong-dong construction site. The Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Institute announced the discovery of Paleolithic-era ruins and artifacts, a first for Daegu. Excavations between April and November of that year yielded more than 13,000 artifacts, including items from the Paleolithic and Bronze Ages, as well as residential sites dating back 10,000 to 20,000 years. The discovery of items native to Mt. Baekdu particularly surprised archaeologists.
Prior to this find, ancient understanding placed the beginning of human habitation in Daegu at around 5,000 years ago. The Paleolithic relics pushed that timeline back to 20,000 years. the Wolseong-dong site, strategically located at the intersection of Daedeoksan Mountain, the Kumho River, and the Nakdong River, provided fertile land suitable for early agriculture.
According to an official from the Dalseo-gu Culture and Tourism Division, the area’s favorable living conditions likely contributed to its use as a burial site for Paleolithic artifacts.
Prehistoric Tourism Takes shape
In 2016, dalseo-gu accelerated its focus on prehistoric tourism. One of the first initiatives, launched in February 2018, was the construction of a 20-meter-long, 6-meter-high giant primitive stone statue named “Idao” in Jincheon-dong Prehistoric Park. Sculptures related to prehistoric times now dot the landscape, including one depicting a primitive man wielding a stone ax against a road sign.
Since 2021, a long-term project has focused on developing experiential content through the creation of a prehistoric-themed street.
Mammoth Sculpture and Sundol Press Bridge
As part of the third phase of the prehistoric theme street project, a 4-meter-tall mammoth sculpture was installed in Dalseo-gu’s Sundol Park on May 22. The sculpture, representing the extinct giant elephant of the last ice age, features moving parts, including its head, nose, and tail.
Choi Mo, a 40-year-old resident of Daecheon-dong, expressed enthusiasm for the new attraction.”I was surprised and refreshed as I was so interested in dinosaurs and animals, and I was interested in prehistoric times,” Choi said. The park also features sculptures depicting activities like tree cutting and earthenware production, creating a prehistoric village atmosphere.
the recently completed Sundol Press Bridge connects the prehistoric theme with modern life. The bridge features symbolic sculptures representing Seondolmadang Park and Sundol Park. Built with an investment of 3.3 billion won, the pedestrian bridge replaces a heavily trafficked crosswalk and aims to create a sense of ”passing through the stand and heading to the prehistoric era.”
Prehistoric Culture Festival draws Crowds
The “2025 Dolly Culture Experience Festival,” held in Sundol Madang Park, attracted approximately 10,000 visitors over two days, May 26-27. The festival featured interactive programs that allowed families to experience prehistoric life through activities such as hunting simulations, fire-starting demonstrations, and earthenware making.
Local Identity and Experiences
Lee Tae-hoon, head of Dalseo-gu, emphasized the importance of these projects. “The theme streets created through the prehistoric era are the place of living and experiences with local identity,” Lee said.
Daegu’s Dalseo-gu: A Journey Back in Time to the Prehistoric Era
Dalseo-gu, a district in Daegu, is revitalizing its connection with its prehistoric past, making it of interest to both residents and tourists. The district has introduced a variety of attractions, that include prehistoric themed streets, sculptures and the new “Sundol Press Bridge”.
The story began in July 2006 with a groundbreaking revelation at a Wolseong-dong construction site. The Gyeongbuk Cultural Heritage Institute announced the finding of Paleolithic-era ruins wich was an extremely significant event; particularly as it was the first time a discovery of this kind had happened in daegu.
Between April and November 2006,excavations yielded over 13,000 artifacts,dating back 10,000 to 20,000 years. These artifacts included items from the Paleolithic and Bronze Ages, as well as residential sites. The discovery pushed back the timeline of human habitation in Daegu substantially. the discovery of artifacts from the Wolseong-dong site moved the timeline to the Paleolithic era, showing that humans lived in the area 20,000 years ago, when the earliest understanding had the human population in Daegu around 5,000 years ago.
The site’s location at the intersection of Daedeoksan Mountain, the Kumho River, and the Nakdong River provided fertile land, making it suitable for early agriculture and, as an official highlights, likely a burial site for Paleolithic artifacts.
Dalseo-gu increased its focus on prehistoric tourism starting in 2016. One of the first initiatives, launched in February 2018, was the construction of a 20-meter-long, and 6-meter-high primitive stone statue named “Idao” in Jincheon-dong Prehistoric Park. Sculptures related to prehistoric life began to appear across the district.
Key attractions include:
- “Idao” Statue: A large primitive stone statue in Jincheon-dong Prehistoric Park.
- sculptures: A variety of themed sculptures are installed throughout the district.
- Prehistoric-Themed Streets: experiential content through the creation of a prehistoric-themed street.
- Mammoth Sculpture: A 4-meter-tall mammoth sculpture in Sundol Park, with moving parts.
- Sundol Press Bridge: A pedestrian bridge that connects the prehistoric theme with modern life, with sculptures representing features of Seondolmadang Park and Sundol Park.
Installed on May 22, the 4-meter-tall mammoth sculpture is a highlight in Sundol park, representing the extinct giant elephant of the last ice age. It’s designed with moving parts, including its head, nose, and tail, which has generated excitement and a sense of refreshment among visitors. Other sculptures in the park depict activities like tree cutting and earthenware production,creating a prehistoric village atmosphere.
As one resident, Choi Mo, a 40-year-old of Daecheon-dong expressed, “I was surprised and refreshed as I was so interested in dinosaurs and animals, and I was interested in prehistoric times”.
The recently completed Sundol Press Bridge connects the prehistoric theme with modern life. The bridge,built with an investment of 3.3 billion won, features symbolic sculptures representing Seondolmadang Park and Sundol Park. It replaces a heavily trafficked crosswalk and aims to create a sense of “passing through the stand and heading to the prehistoric era.”
The “2023 dolly Culture Experience Festival,” held in Sundol Madang Park, attracted approximately 10,000 visitors over two days, May 26-27. The festival included interactive programs allowing families to partake in prehistoric life by involving them in activities simulating hunting, fire-starting demonstrations, and the making of earthenware.
Lee Tae-hoon, head of Dalseo-gu, emphasized that the theme streets created through the prehistoric era are a place of living and experiences with local identity. The projects aim to create a strong connection to the local identity.
If you’re planning a trip to South Korea,be sure to visit Daegu’s Dalseo-gu and experience the prehistoric past!