Excavation Survey Report on the 1st-2nd, 8th Block of the 1st Ward on the Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital, the Nara Capital

 

Contents

Chapter I Introduction　1

1 Process leading to the excavation　1

2 Excavation teams/organizations　2

3 Preparation of the excavation report（ a legend）　3

Chapter II Excavation　5

1 Changes in the site　5

2 The past excavations　11

3 Outline of the excavations　16

A 478th excavation　16

B 486th excavation　16

C 488th excavation　18

D 491st excavation　18

E 495th excavation　18

F 502nd excavation　20

G 515th excavation　21

H 522nd excavation　22

I 555th excavation 　 22

J 2015-7th presence investigation　22

K 557th excavation（ 2015-9th presence investigation）　23

4 Excavation logs（ abstract）　 24

A 478th excavation 　24

B 486th excavation 　25

C 488th excavation 　 26

D 491st excavation　 27

E 495th excavation　 27

F 502nd excavation　28

G 515th excavation　29

H 522nd excavation　 29

I 555th excavation　 30

J 2015-7th presence investigation　30

K 557th excavation（ 2015-9th presence investigation）　30

Chapter III Archaeological features　31

1 Location and topography of the site 　31

2 Representative stratigraphy of the site 　34

3 Descriptions of archaeological features　37

A Archaeological features prior to　the construction of Nara Palace/Nara Capital 　37

B Archaeological features related to smithery in the construction period of Nara Palace/Nara Capital　38

C Other archaeological features in the construction period of Nara Palace/Nara Capital　71

D Archaeological features after the dismantlement of blacksmithing workshops　76

E Archaeological features after the transfer of national capital to Nagaoka kyo （長岡京） Capital　84

F Archaeological features of indeterminate period of time　85

Chapter IV Artifacts　87

1 Pottery, Clay objects, and Haniwa clay figurines　87

A Pottery and Clay objects prior to the construction of Nara Capital　 87

B Pottery/Clay objects of the Nara Period 　92

C Haniwa clay figurines 　 99

2 Roof tiles and bricks 　 103

A Round eave-end tiles 　103

B Flat eave-end tiles 　110

C Round tiles 　113

D Flat tiles 　114

E Others　115

F Relationships with excavated archaeological features 　116

3 Wooden tablets 　 119

4 Woodenware 　125

A Woodenware excavated from the upper well frame extraction hole and filling soil of the well SE9650 　125

B Woodenware unearthed at the digging hole of the lower well frame SE9650 　131

5 Metalware, coins, lithics and others 　132

A Metalware 　132

B Coins 　133

C Lithics 　133

D Glassware 　134

6 Metallurgy-related artifacts 　135

A Ironware 　135

B Clay objects 　136

C Lithics 　137

D Slags 　140

E Micro remains 　141

7 Well building components 　144

A Upper well frame 　144

B Lower well frame 　146

C Conceivable use of the well building components prior to diversion 　146

D Evaluation of the well building components and SE9650 　148

8 Macro plant remains 　 150

A Identification by Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties 　150

B Identification by Paleo Labo Co., Ltd. 　154

Chapter V Natural scientific analysis 　159

1 Soil analysis 　159

A Summary of environmental archaeological analysis 　159

B Filled soil of the well SE9650 　161

C Digging hole of the lower well frame SE9650 and the base layer outside the well SE9650 　 177

D The northern and southern gutters at the SF9670 Sanjo-jokan Kitakoji （三条条間北小路） 　185

E The northern and southern gutters at the SF9660 road inside the block 　189

2 Ancient distribution and production of ironware in view of the results of physicochemical analysis of blacksmithing-related artifacts 　198

A Introduction 　198

B Classification method based on the characteristics and analysis results of slags produced in each process from iron manufacturing to blacksmithing 　198

C Investigation of blacksmithing-related artifacts excavated from blacksmith workshops around the capital city 　200

D Discussion 　203

E Conclusion 　207

3 Tree species of unearthed well building components,wooden tablets and woodenware 　209

A Samples 　209

B Analysis method 　209

C Results 　209

D Discussion 　215

4 Dendrochronology 　220

Chapter VI Discussion 　223

1 Chronologic transitions of achaeological features 　223

2 Land use and land-use change of the 1st Block of the 1st Ward on the Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital 　227

A Introduction 　227

B Pre-Nara Capital 　227

C Before and after Nara Capital 　228

D Structure of the square located in the 1st Block of the 1st Ward on the Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital 　230

E Characteristics and management of the square located in the 1st Block of the 1st Ward on the Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital 　232

F The use of the square located in the 1st Block of the 1st Ward on the Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital 　233

G Demise of the square located in the 1st Block of the 1st Ward on the Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital 　236

H Summary 　237

3 Blacksmithing archaeological features 　242

A Comparison with the workshops of the Asuka-ike （飛鳥池） Site and Meryo （Bureau of Horses 馬寮） of Nara Palace 　242

B Historical significance of the 1st Block of the 1st Ward on the Third Row Avenuen in the Left Capital,the Nara Capital 　248

Chapter VII Conclusions 　255

English Title and Contents 　261

English Summary 　266

Drawings

Plates

Documents / materials

Report abstract

 

SUMMARY

　This report elaborates on the results of the excavations on the 1st-2nd and 8th Blocks, the 1st Ward on Third Row Avenue in the Left（ east） Capital. In particular,the 1st Block, located in front of the Suzaku （朱雀） Gate, was expected to be an important site, and it was discovered that this was the location of blacksmithing workshops that existed during the construction period of the Nara Palace/Nara Capital. It was also found that the site was later developed into the Suzaku Gate Square, which was used throughout the Nara period. The following is a summary of the report. In the concluding section, the future research and the current situation of the maintenance and utilization of the site will be discussed.

 

1 Major archaeological features discovered

　At the site, archaeological features were discovered from the Yayoi, Kofun,and Nara periods and the post-relocation period after the national capital was moved to Nagaoka-kyo （長岡京）.

　In the 8th Block, the gutters SD10420 and 10421 from the Yayoi V phase period were identified. In the southeast of the 1st Block, we identified a pit from the Kofun period, as well as in the 8th Block, a small round mounded tomb SZ10415 with a surrounding moat SD10416 from the rarly 6th century.

　In the northern half of the 1st Block, blacksmithing workshops from the construction period of the Nara Palace/Nara Capital had expanded. These workshops can be categorized into two periods, the first-half and latter-half periods, considering the overlapping relationship of the archaeological features.The blacksmithing workshop SX10100 of the first-half period has a workshopprotection shelter SB10250 within which multiple furnaces, bellows and an anvil were installed; in addition, the gutters SD9883, 9885 and 10260 that served as a moisture-prevention facility were found around the workshop. Meanwhile, the blacksmithing workshops SX9830, 9690 and 9850 of the latter-half period were provided respectively with the workshop protection shelters SB9881, 9880 and 9882. The gutters SD9878, 9883, 9884, 9885 and 9889 that serve as moistureprevention facilities were built around the protection shelter. Within the workshop protection shelter, the traces of the furnaces, bellows, and anvil are regularly positioned. To the south of the blacksmithing workshops, the annex buildings SB9877, 9999, 10000 and 10010 were constructed in a row.Furthermore, between the 1st and 2nd Blocks, the Sanjo-jokan Kita Koji （三条条間北小路） Alley SF9670 was discovered with gutters on the northern and southern sides. The blacksmithing workshops and the alley may have coexisted during the same time period.

　After the blacksmithing workshops in the 1st Block were abandoned, the land was leveled. Many archaeological features including buildings, wells, block roads,and other features that dig into the leveled soil have been found. At well SE9650, a 2 levels upper and lower well frame have survived. The upper well frame measures 2.4 meters on each side and is accompanied by the well roof SB9890. The lower well frame is hexagonal in plan and was constructed with seven horizontal planks. In the center of the block, a block road SF9660 in an east-west direction is laid out with north-south gutters. The west end of the road connects to Suzaku-oji （朱雀大路） Avenue via a bridge over the east-side gutter of Suzaku-oji Avenue. Several small dug-standing pillar buildings were found to the north and east of the well SE9650 and north of Sanjo-jokan Kita koji street, indicating that they had been reconstructed. In addition, in the square, the pit SK10050 associated with Shinto groundbreaking ceremonies was discovered. There are no Tsuiji （築地） roofed mud walls on the north, west, or south sides of the 1st Block, suggesting that the block served as the SuzakuGate Square in combination with the Suzaku Gate and Nijo-oji Second Avenue.

　It is unknown when the building SB10075, presumably built after the relocation of the national capital to Nagaoka-kyo , was constructed and abandoned. On the other hand, the block roads were evidently in existence until the early 10th century, judging from the artifacts excavated from the gutters.

 

2 Excavated artifacts

Pottery　Various examples of pottery of the Yayoi period phase-V were excavated from the east-west gutter SD10420; and a sake cup H of Sue ware unglazed pottery（ MT15-TK10 type） was excavated from the burial mound moat SD10416. Haji ware unglazed ceramic pottery and Sue ware unglazed pottery,many of which were nearly complete Haji ware pots and Sue ware jars and bottles, were excavated together from the soil fill of the well SE9650 and have been dated to the latter half of the Nara period. A small amount of Nara Sansai（奈良三彩） three-colored ware was also found.

Haniwa clay figurines　Haniwa clay figurines were excavated from the moat SD10416 surrounding the mounded tomb, as well as from the Nara-period leveled soil layer and the gutters SD9671 and 9672 of the Sanjo-jokan Kita Koji Alley. The haniwa clay figurines include cylindrical, morning glory-shaped, and other variously formed examples. With the exception of one Group IV example,they are all Group V haniwa clay figurines.

Roof tiles　Although eaves tiles, round tiles, and flat tiles of the Nara period were excavated, the total amount is small for the surveyed area. The dugstanding pillar building discovered in the 1st Block may possibly have had an all-tile roof. The concentration of tiles unearthed in both gutters of the Sanjojokan Kita Koji Alley are considered to be those discarded from the Tsuiji roofed mud wall on the north side of the 2nd Block.

Wooden tablets　Wooden tablets were unearthed in the well SE9650,suggesting a relationship between the 1st Block and the Sakyo-shiki （Left capital administration bureau 左京職）, a connection with the Emonfu （衛門府）, headquarters of the outer palace gate guard of the Suzaku Gate, and the rituals of reclaiming wells by filling them in with soil.

Woodenware　A large amount of woodenware was excavated from the well SE9650. The finds include ritual implements, clothing, weapons, toys, dining utensils, farming implements, and vessels. In addition, waraji straw sandals and wickerwork baskets were excavated as well.

Metalware/lithics　These include iron knives, iron nails, iron axes, iron arrowheads, Kaigen-tsuho （開元通寶） copper coins, Wado-kaichin （和同開珎）coins, Sanukite stone arrowheads, and glass discoidal beads.

Metallurgy-related artifacts　From the blacksmithing workshop sites from the construction period of the Nara Palace/Nara Capital, small pieces of iron nails,earthen tuyeres from bellows, grinding stones, and anvil stones were excavated,as well as slag, forge flakes, and granulated residues. Therefore, it is assumed that the blacksmithing workshop was only engaged in iron forging.

Well building components　The Doigeta （土井桁） base tie-beams of the well SE9650 had joints that were unnecessary for well construction and were identified as being repurposed material. The surface of the horizontal planks of the well frame had carbonized areas and nail holes, indicating probable mixed use of recycled materials.

Macro plant remaines　Seeds excavated from the soil fill of the well SE9650 and east-west gutters SD10420/10421 were analyzed. The well soil fill contained many edible plants such as chestnut, bayberry, jujube, peach seeds, seeds of the melon family, and wild Pyroideae. The eastern and western gutters of the Yayoi period contain not only cultivated plants such as rice, millet, and soybean, but also Persicaria longiseta that suggests the vegetation profile of the surrounding area, as well as aquatic and wetland emergent plants including Sparganium,Carex and Persicaria.

 

3 Natural scientific analysis

Soil analysis　Plant opal（ phytolith）, pollen, seedpods, parasite eggs, and diatoms were analyzed for environmental restoration.

　Although the area around the well SE9650 was a wetland environment,relatively dry areas were also scattered within the area. In terms of forest vegetation, such plants were growing in the area as; （i） evergreen broadleaf trees including Quercus schottkyana of Quercus, Castanopsis, etc;（ ii） deciduous broadleaf trees such as Quercus（ subgenesis Quercus）; and,（ iii） conifers such as cedar, Pinus, etc. Because the parasite eggs had a relatively low density, they are considered to be derived from ordinary life pollution.

　The environmental distribution around the digging hole of the well SE9650 is estimated to be: （i） a relatively wet environment with Phragmites; （ii） forests dominated by oak （Quercus Quercus schottkyana）, and （iii） grassland and swampy wetland. Vegetation of the northern and southern gutters of the Sanjo jokan Kita Koji Alley SF9670 is not significantly different from the restored vegetation around the soil fill of the well SE9650. The fact that almost no diatoms were detected at the gutters suggests that it may have been a repeatedly dry and wet environment, with rainwater flowing only during precipitation events. Although the northern and southern gutters of the block road SF9660 are considered to have been a relatively wet environment, it was usually wet to slightly dry due to storm water and other flows. The surrounding area has been restored to a well-drained, dry environment.

Physicochemical analysis on blacksmithing-related artifacts　Slag and fine iron remains excavated from blacksmithing workshops were analyzed.Blacksmithing workshops in the vicinity of capital cities from the late 7th to the end of the 8th century are thought to have brought in iron materials that were forged and shaped after impurities had been removed in the refining process. It is theorized that the blacksmithing workshops in the 1st Block, the 1st Ward on Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital in particular were used to mass-produce standardized products. A large number of blacksmithing furnaces were located within the same building, and each furnace presumably concentrated on hot forging in order to mass-produce standardized architectural hardware.

Tree species of excavated well building components, wooden tablets and woodenware　Tree species identification was conducted on the excavated wooden artifacts. The wooden tablets use edge/flat-grained cedar and cypress,and the well frame horizontal planks were constructed of edge/flat-grained cypress. Most of the woodenware excavated from the well is cypress, except for the knife handle made of Diospyros, Narikabura whistling arrow of Helicia cochinchinensis, horizontal combs of Distylium racemosum, spoon of Castanopsis cuspidata, and spinning top of Osmanthus fragrans. The pillar roots of the eastwest building SB10000 were found to be dense Cleyera japonica.

Dendrochronology　A dendrochronological examination was conducted on the wooden tablets, well frame horizontal planks, and curved base plates excavated from the well SE9650. The three wooden tablets are likely to be made from the same piece of wood because of the matching annual ring widths. The well frame horizontal plank Fl shows an outermost surviving sapwood age of 669, the latest of the well frame timbers, which can be interpreted as a date not long after 669.There is a discrepancy between the well SE9650 of the Nara period and the well SE9650 dated to 669. However, taking into consideration that the well frame materials were possibly repurposed, the date is consistent. The outermost remaining sapwood of the bentwood bottom plate 30 is dated to 776, and since this bentwood was cut and produced after this year, the well SE9650 is considered to have been abandoned after 776, almost the end of the Nara period.

 

4 Conclusion

Although the changes in archaeological features and the historical significance of the blacksmithing workshops were previously discussed in detail, the conclusions of the report are summarized here again.

　A series of surveys have revealed land-use change in the 1st-2nd and 8th Blocks, the 1st Ward on Third Row Avenue in the Left Capital. In the 8th Block,the existence of gutters and a small tumulus suggesting the existence of a rural settlement in the Yayoi period were identified. Along with the construction work of the Nara Palace/Nara Capital, a large blacksmithing workshop was built on the 1st Block, which was transformed into a square in 714 for the ceremonies of the New Year's Day celebration the following year. It remained as a square until the relocation of the national capital to Nagaoka-kyo , after which it gradually became farmland.

　The blacksmithing workshops in the construction period of the Nara Palace/Nara Capital are the remains of the largest governmental workshops in the capital. They are valuable archaeological features that show not only the overall composition and structure of the workshops, but also its working units. The workshops were single-industry workshops engaged in the manufacture of only small wrought ironware. Accordingly, the workshops can be recognized as an important example of the transition process from a large-scale cooperative organization system that comprehensively undertook the plural industries in the 7th century to another new large-scale cooperative organization system in which the industries were differentiated and unified.

　The Suzaku Gate Square, presumably completed in 714, is a space combining Suzaku-oji Avenue, Nijo-oji （二条大路） Second Avenue, and the 1st Block of the East and West 1st Wards, measuring about 140 meters in the north-south direction and 260 meters in the east-west direction, based on estimated restoration. Within the block, there existed a building associated with a well and corresponding rituals. In addition, this square is thought to have hosted the New Year's Day celebration in 715, as well as ceremonies such as Utagaki （dancing and singing feast of young men and women 歌垣）, sumo wrestling,horseback hunting/archery ceremonies, Oharae （大祓） Shinto purification rituals and Taina （大儺） rituals to drive out demons. Meanwhile, since the gutters of Suzaku-oji Avenue exist in the square, it is also conceivable that the 1st Block of East and West Wards was a space distinct from Suzaku-oji Avenue,and that the 1st Block may have served as a backyard space for ceremonial purposes. Since the well was likely abandoned at the end of the Nara period, the square was under control of the Left capital administration bureau, conceivably maintained and used until the relocation of national capital to Nagaoka-kyo .

 

5 Future research

　The blacksmithing workshops in the 1st Block are the archaeological features of the first large-scale government workshops identified in the Nara Capital.Considering the location, scale, and structure, they are undoubtfully workshops related to the construction of the Nara Palace. However, the construction of the Nara Palace would have required many more types of workshops, which must have existed in the vicinity of the palace. As archaeological features of the various types of workshops are found, the construction process of the Nara Palace as well as the government officials who managed the workshops and the operational framework will be clarified. Progress in further research is expected in the future.

　The excavations revealed aspects of the square in the 1st Block in the East 1st Ward. However, the 1st Block in the West First Ward on the Third Street has still been only partially surveyed, and no archaeological features have been identified to show the existence of a blacksmithing workshop on the block.Although block roads existed in the block, whether wells and buildings were also present is still uncertain. Additionally, whether the Suzaku Gate Square was completely symmetrical, as assumed in the report, awaits further investigation. Furthermore, it will be necessary to integrate the results of previous surveys around the 1st Block of East and West Wards, and to clarify the detailed spatial use of the important site facing the Suzaku Gate, including the construction plan of major roads in the Nara Capital such as Suzaku-oji Avenue and Nijo-oji Second Avenue, the construction period and its changes,and other details.

　Various artifacts were excavated from the well SE9650, including pottery,woodenware and wooden tablets. These artifacts are considered to be those discarded when the well was abandoned, indicating a date for the abandonment period of the well. On the other hand, the 1st Block is a square, not a place where potteries and woodenware are used on a daily basis; therefore, the derivation and characters of the artifacts need to be identified. Further examination of the relationship with the neighboring blocks and with the rituals performed when a well is reclaimed will be an issue to investigate in the future.

 

6 Restoration/improvement and utilization

　After the survey, the site and its surrounding area were extensively restored and improved as "the Suzaku Gate Square" of the National Nara Palace Site Historical Park by the MLITT （Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism） and Nara Prefectural Government. The Suzaku Gate Square consists of the Suzaku Gate, Nara Palace Guidance Center, Suzaku-oji Avenue, Nijo-oji Second Avenue, and tourism exchange facilities.

Heijo-kyu Izanai-kan （Nara Palace Guidance Center）　This facility was opened on March 24, 2018 to provide an overview of the Nara Palace Site that served as the impetus for the excavation. This guidance center is operated by the Nara Palace Site Management Center, and four exhibition rooms are open to visitors free of charge.

　"Nara Palace Site Today": Provides explanations about the overall image of the Nara Palace Site, the rich nature that colors the four seasons, and information about the restoration work inside Nara Palace.

　"Aspects of Nara Palace": Shows a reconstruction model （1/200） of the entire Nara Palace, computer graphic videos, and a picture scroll of one day at Nara Palace.

　"Activities in Ancient Times": Exhibits a diorama that reproduces the aspects of the blacksmithing workshop operated in the 1st Block in the East First Ward on the Third Street, Nara Capital. In addition, there is a 1/5 scale model of the first Daigoku-den （大極殿） Hall, and visitors can experience the building process of assembling, tile laying, and wooden tablets.

　"Beyond Time": This exhibition room was organized by Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties on its own initiative. The exhibition provides explanations about the history of the Nara Palace/Nara Capital, showing sites and artifacts selected from those excavated over many years. The artifacts unearthed at the blacksmithing workshop in the 1st Block are exhibited as well.

Exhibition of original well SE9650　After conservation treatment, the well frame are assembled and exhibited in the center aisle of the exhibition room.The position of the exhibition is aligned with the position at which the well was discovered.

Suzaku-oji Avenue/Nijo-oji Second Avenue　The MLITT （Ministry of Land,Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism） has restored and improved Suzaku-oji Avenue and Nijo-oji Second Avenue along with the opening of the Nara Palace Guidance Center. Specifically, Suzaku-oji Avenue was reconstructed for a distance of about 260 meters from the Suzaku Gate to Omiya Street, and Nijooji Second Avenue was reconstructed for a distance of about 400 meters in total on both sides of the Suzaku Gate. Various maintenance and improvement work has additionally been conducted by restoring the latest research developments found through excavations, including the western gutter on the Suzaku-oji Avenue, a bridge across the gutter, the gutter across the Nijo-oji Second Avenue, and roadside-tree planting, in addition to the existing restored/improved facilities. It is extremely significant that now the full width of Suzakuoji Avenue can be experienced through this restoration and improvement.

Tourism exchange facilities　In the 1st and 2nd Blocks of the First Ward on the Third Street in Right Capital, the Nara prefectural government has built a tourist information center, food and beverage shops, a reconstruction of an envoy ship to Tang China, a toll parking lot, and a bus stop as one of the bases for sightseeing in Nara. For further information about the present situation in the front of the Suzaku Gate, please refer to the website of Nara Palace Site Historical Park.

 

2024年3月22日　発行

奈良文化財研究所学報　第103冊