Monograph No. 46
EXCAVATIONS ON 13TH AND 14TH BLOCKS OF FIRST WARD,ON EIGHTH STREET, THE WESTERN SECTOR,HEIJO CAPITAL, NARA（1986）
RESEARCH REPORTS OF NARA NATIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE N0.46
ENGLISH SUMMARY
NARA NATIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE 1989
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter I Introduction 1
1. Excavations of the Heijo Capital 1
2. Preparation of the Present Report 3
Chapter II Investigation 4
1. Circumstances of the Investigation 4
2. Area of the Excavation 5
3. Overview of the Excavation 8
A. Excavation by Yamato Koriyama City 9
B. 156-32nd Heijo Project by the Research Institute 10
C. 168th Heijo Project by the Research Institute (south section) 10
D. 168th Heijo Project by the Research Institute (north section) 11
E. 179th Heijo Project by the Research Institute 12
4. Excavation Log 13
5. Mapping by Photogrammetry 22
Chapter III Site 25
1. Overview of the Site 25
2. Features 26
A. Features of the Phase I (Early half of the Early Nara Period) 26
B. Features of the Phase II (Later half of the Early Nara Period) 39
C. Features of the Phase III (Early half of the Late Nara Period) 47
D. Features of the Phase IV (Later half of the Late Nara Period) 58
E. Other features 61
F. Wells 63
G. Features containing ritually buried Pottery 70
Chapter IV Unearthed Artifacts 71
1. Artifacts Related to the Workshops 71
A. Artifacts related to metal production 71
B. Artifacts related to lacquer ware 78
2. Artifacts of Metal, Glass and Stones 81
A. Metal artifacts 81
B. Glass artifacts 84
C. Stones artifacts 85
3. Coins 86
4. Pottery 87
A. From Pit SK 2001 88
B. From Ditch SD 1500 90
C. From Ditches SD 1387, 1440, and 1345 92
D. From pits 93
E. From post holes 95
F. From wells 97
G. Glazed ceramics and trade ware from Silla (668-935), Korea 101
H. Other clay objects 102
I. Ceramic ink stones 104
J. Discussion 105
5. Wooden Objects 111
A. Tools for wood working 111
B. Spool and spindle 112
C. Ornaments for dress 112
D. Vessels 114
E. Ware for meals 117
F. Part of a desk 117
G. Ritual objects 118
H. Others 118
6. Artifacts with Inscriptions 120
A. Wooden tablets 120
B. Documents on paper soaked in lacquer 121
C. Pottery with inscriptions in ink 125
7. Tiles and Bricks 127
A. End-roof tiles 127
B. Round and curved roof tiles 131
C. Roof tiles for various uses and bricks 134
8. Faunal Remains 135
9. Plant Remains 137
10. Artifacts from features containing ritually buried pottery 138
Chapter V Discussion 141
1. Features of the Urban System and Arrangement of Land 141
2. Change in Features over Time 153
3. Residential Unit and Architecture 164
4. Age Determination of Wooden Objects by Dendrochronology 175
5. Artifacts Related to Metal Production and the Nature of the Workshop 179
6. Fuhon 富本 Coins 186
7. Nature of Unearthed Documents 189
8. Appearance of Small-Unit Residences 194
9. Nature of Features Containing Ritually Buried Pottery 198
10. Conclusion 202
Supplementary Tables 205
English Summary 215
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Site map: according to the Heijo Capital Grid (Jobo 条坊) System 5
2. Close up of site area: the southern portion of the Heijo Capital 6
3. Lacquer container of round bentwood vessel from Eleventh Block Well SE930 7
4. Bronze mirror decorated with marine mammals and grape vine (Kaiju budo kyo 海獣葡萄鏡) from northern side ditch of Ninth Street 7
5. Survey map of Area 6AII 8
6. Plan of the 164-10th Heijo Project 12
7. Grid of excavation units: by Yamato-Koriyama Municipal Board of Education and by the Research Institute (the 156-32nd Heijo Project) 13
8. Grid of excavation units (south section): the 168th Heijo Project 15
9. Grid of excavation units (north section): the 168th Heijo Project 17
10. Grid of excavation units: the 179th Heijo Project 20
11. Datum points 23
12. Topographic sketch and stratigraphic key 25
13. Preserved Pillar: SB1537 29
14. Wooden basal Plate for a pillar: SB1680 30
15. Cross-section of Ditches SDI499 and SD1500 35
16. Cross-section of Ditches SD1495 and SD1496 35
17. Cross-section of Ditches SD1495 and SD1496 35
18. Cross-section of Ditch SD 1568 35
19. Cross-section of Pit SK1908 37
20. Cross-section of Pit SK2026 38
21. Cross-section of Pit SK1489 38
22. Preserved Pillar: SB1325 39
23. Post hole superimposition of Structures SB1380 and SB1381 40
24. Preserved Pillar: SB1395 40
25. Preserved Pillar: SB1830 42
26. Preserved pillar with wooden basal plate: SB1890 43
27. Preserved pillar: SB2065 43
28. Cross-section of Pit SK1348 45
29. Cross-section of Pit SK1825 45
30. Cross-section of Pit SK1943 46
31. Cross-section of Pit SK2001 46
32. Preserved Pillar: SB1470 48
33. Preserved Pillar: SB1326 58
34. Cross-section of Pit SK1304 61
35. Cross-section of Pit SK1775 62
36. Cross-section of Pit SK1910 62
37. Cross-section of Feature SX1552 62
38. Horizontal framework of a well 64
39. Vertical framework of Well SE1700 67
40. Horizontal framework of Well SE2070 68
41. Stopper for a lacquer container 78
42. Lacquer container recycled from Sue Pottery, Type A basin 79
43. Reconstructed lacquer container with stopper emplaced 79
44. Pottery from Ditches SD1387, SD1440, and SD1345 94
45. Pottery from Pits and Post holes 96
46. Pottery from Wells SE1375, SE1335, SE1365, SE1560, SE1385, SE1360, and SE1530 98
47. Pottery from Wells SE1867 and SE1870 100
48. Pottery from Anapchi 雁鴨池 Pond, Korea 101
49. Other clay objects 102
50. Pottery stand: type K Pot of Sue Pottery 107
51. Long (rectangular) comb (scale drawing) 112
52. Short (vertical) and stemmed combs 113
53. Round bentwood vessel 34: joint 114
54. Birch bark vessel: joint 116
55. Large round bentwood vessel from the the Daifuku 大福 site, Sakurai City, Nara 117
56. Type 6134-Bround edge roof tile: ventral view 128
57. Type 6285-B roof tile: finger prints preserved in the ventral side 128
58. Type 6229-A roof tile 128
59. Type 6229-A roof tile: ventral view, showing traces of cloth used in separating inner mold from clay 128
60. Edge roof tile (trimming adjustments) ; end (sumi 隅) roof tile; and inscribed roof tile 133
61. Type 6646-Ba roof tile 133
62. Type 6721-C roof tile 133
63. Brick: weathered surface 134
64. Brick with Punctuations 134
65. Artifacts from Feature SX1535 139
66. Artifacts from Feature SX1400 140
67. Orientation of streets and avenues, the southern Portion of the Heijo Capital with respect to Capital gates 142
68. Declination of two minor streets between the Seventh and Eighth Major Streets 143
69. Declination of Major avenues and streets, Western Sector of the Heijo Capital 144
70. Declination of minor avenue in the eastern half of the Eastern Sector, Third Quarter 147
71. Relationship between minor avenue in the East Third Quarter and Higashi Horikawa Canal 147
72. Streets, avenues, and alleys within the excavation areas 149
73. Reconstructed plan of streets and avenues surrounding the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks, First Ward on the Eighth Street, Western Sector 150
74. Features of the Phase II and IV in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks, First Ward on the Eighth Street, Western Sector 151
75. Features in the Tenth Block, Third Ward on the Ninth Street, Eastern Sector 152
76. Features in the Ninth Block, Third Ward on the Eighth Street Eastern Sector 152
77. Phase I features 155
78. Phase II features 157
79. Phase III features 159
80. Phase IV features 161
81. Tenth Block, Third Ward on Ninth Street, Eastern Sector 167
82. Fourteenth Block, Second Ward on Sixth Street, Eastern Sector 167
83. Eighth Block, First Ward on Fifth Street, Eastern Sector 168
84. Shodo 正道 site, Kyoto Prefecture 169
85. Distribution of artifacts and features associated with metallurgy: the northern portion of the Fourteenth Block excavation area 171
86. Ninth Block, Third Ward on Eighth Street, Eastern Sector (Early Nara Period) 173
87. Ninth Block, Third Ward on Eighth Street, Eastern Sector (Middle Nara Period) 173
88. Master tree-ring pattern (Japanese cypress) (bottom); tree-ring pattern of a wooden board from a well (top) 177
89. Master tree-ring pattern (Japanese cypress) (bottom); tree-ring Pattern of a rectangular bentwood vessel (top) 177
90. L-shaped tuyere of recent times 181
91. L-shaped tuyere: reconstructed use 181
92. Various fuhon 富本 coins 187
93. Register for taxation (keicho 計帳), the Otagi County in the present Kyoto Prefecture (Sh6so-in Treasures) 181
94. Nara Period residential tax records for the western Sector, Heijo Capital (Shoso-in Treasures) 189
95. Shigyo hachimon 四行八門 land allotment system for the Heian Capital 196
LIST OF TABLES
1. Excavation projects: dates and areas 8
2. Photogrammetric datum points 23
3. Photogrammetric camera settings 24
4. Heijo Capital well sizes 69
5. Results of fluorescence X-rays analysis on chemical contents of crucibles and slags, etc. 77
6. Size and weight of glass beads 84
7. Heijo Capital pottery chronology 87
8. Pottery assemblage from Pit SK2001 106
9. Tang China (618-907) and Silla Korea (668-935) trade ware from the Hojo Capital 109
10. Results of fluorescence X-rays analysis on chemical composition of pottery 110
11. Size of combs (horizontal type) 113
12. Round bentwood vessels: basal sizes 115
13. Size of ritual wooden blades (igushi 斎串) 118
14. Pottery with ink inscription 126
15. Faunal remains 136
16. Botanical remains 137
17. Artifacts from Feature SX1400 140
18. East-west major streets and north-south major avenues, the Heijo Capital: coordinates 142
19. Minor streets between the Seventh and Eighth Major Streets: coordinates 143
20. Major north-south avenues in the Western Sector, the Heijo Capital: coordinates 145
21. Minor avenues between the East Second and East Third Avenues: coordinates 147
22. Width of minor streets and avenues between major north-south avenues and east-west streets in the Capital 148
23. Minor streets and avenues surrounding the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks: proposed coordinates 148
24. Size of the Heijo Capital structures (lacking foundation stones) based on the intercolumnar space 164
25. Size of verandaed structures (lacking foundation stones) based on the intercolumnar space 165
26. Spatial distributions of different-sized structures in the Capital 165
27. Size of structures with interior/core pillar supported (sobashira 総柱) in the Heijo Capital 166
28. Dendrochronological absolute dates 176
29. Japanese master chronology by six species 178
30. Sites in the Heijo Capital and Palace which yielded documents on paper soaked in lacquer 190
31. Presence of small scale residences mentioned in the Gesshakusenge 月借銭解[Nara Period document listing Peoples’ debts and properties] 194
32. Standard of distributing parcels of land for residences in the Fujiwara 藤原(694-710) and Naniwa 難波 (726-734) Capitals 195
33. Features containing ritually buried Pottery from the Heijo Capital 200
SUPPLENIENTARY TABLES
1. Principal architectural features 205
2. Wells 208
3. Whetstones 209
4. Size and weight of coins 210
5. List of end roof tiles 211
6. Distribution of slags and crucibles 213
PLANS AND SECTIONS
1. Entire floor Plan of Areas 6AII-O, -P, and-Q
2. Northern half of the northern Portion of Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
3. Southern half of the northern Portion of Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
4. Northern half of the Thirteenth Block; the southern portion of the Fourteenth Block in Areas 6AII-P and -Q
5. Eastern half of the Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
6. Northern half of the Thirteenth Block; the southern portion of the Fourteenth Block in Areas 6AII-P and -Q
7. Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
COLOR PLATE
Frontispiece : Metallurgical artifacts
PLATES
1. Aerial Photograph of the excavated areas and their vicinity (1955)
2. Aerial Photograph of the excavated areas and their vicinity (1980)
3. Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q: south section of 168th Heijo Project excavation areas, from the north
4. Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
1. Alley SF1320, Structures SB1325 and 1326, and Well SEI305, from the east
2. Structures SB1363 and 1364, Well SE1365, Pit SK1361, from the west
5.Thirtcenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
1. Structures SB1336 and 1350, Well SE1335, from the west
2. Structures SB1314, and 1316, Well SE1315, from the north
3. Structure SB1350, from the north
6. Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
1. Fences SA1370, 1371, and 1372, Well SE1375 Pit SK1373, from the east
2. Structures SB1380 and 1381, from the east
3. Structure SB140, Features containing ritually buried Pottery SX1400 and 1401, from the east
7. Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
1. Alley SF1320, Pit SK1304, from the south
2. Alley SF1320, Structure SB1395, Ditches SD1387 and 1412, Pit SK1409, from the south
8. Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks in Areas 6AII-P and -Q: north section or the 168th Heijo Project excavation areas, from the northeast
9. Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks in Areas 6AII-P and -Q
1. Minor street SF2000, and its side ditches SD1495, 1496, 1499, and l500, from the west
2. Minor street SF2000, Pits SK1493, 1502, 1508, 1509, 1511, and 1515, from the east
10. Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
1. Structures SB1470, 1471, and 1472, Fense SA1473, from the east
2. Ditches SD1412 and 1487, from the south
3. Underdrain SX1489
11. Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
1. Structures SB1476, 1477 and 1478, from the east
2. Structures SB1425 and 1482, Fense SA1483, from the south
12. Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks in Areas 6AII,P and -Q
1. Alley SF1320, Minor Street SF2000, Wall SA1570, from the south
2. Wall SA1570, from the south
3. Wall SA1570, and the ditches along the wall, SD1649 and 1668, from the north
13. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-P
1. Structures SB1559 and 1561, Fence SA1558, Well SE1560, from the south
2. Structures SB1585, 1586, 1587, and 1588, from the south
14. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-P
1. Eastern half of the northern excavation units under the 168th Heijo Project, from the southeast
2. Structure SB1534, Feature containing ritually buried pottery SX1535, from the east
3. Structures SB1553 and 1584, from the north
15. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-P
1. Structure SB1532, Pit SK1980, from the east
2. Structure SB1531, Features containing ritually buried Pottery SX1592 and 1593, from the east
3.Pit SK1552, from the south
16. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O: 179th Heijo Project excavation areas, from the north
17. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
1. Alley SF1970, Wall SA1570, from the north
2. Structure SB1710 from the east
3. Structures SB1682, 1760, 1790 and 1791, from the east
18. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
1. Structures SB1820 and 1830, Fense SA1900, Pits SK1824 and 1951, from the east
2. Structures SB1780, 1781, and 1810, from the south
3. Well SE1870, Pits SK1861, 1915 and 1943, from the east
19. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
1. Structure SB1890, Fence SA1850, Well SE1867, from the south
2. Pit SK1863, from the north
3. Pits SK1825 and 1826, from the north
5. Pits SK1775, from the south
20. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
1. Excavation area or the 156-32nd Heijo Project, from the north
2. Excavation area or the 156-32nd Heijo Project, from the south
21. Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
1. Excavation area by the Yamato-Koriyama Municipal Board of Education in 1984, from the west
2. Excavation area by the Yamato-Koriyama Municipal Board or Education in 1984, from the north
3. Structure SB1890, from the north
22. Wells in the Thirteenth Block in Area 6AII-Q
1. SE1305, from the west
2. SE1315, from the north
3. SE1365, from the north
4. SE1375, from the north
23. Wells in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks in Areas 6AII-P and -Q
1. SE1530, from the west
2. SE1550, from the south
3. SE1555, from the west
4. SE1555, from the north
24. Wells in the Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-P
1. and 2.SE1700, from the south
3. SE1560, from the east
4. SE1867, from the south
25. Wells in the Fourteenth Block in Area 6AII-O
1. SE1870 and 1880, from the south
2. SEI870, from the west
3. SE1917, from the south
4. SE2020, from the south
26. Features containing ritually buried pottery in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks in Areas 6AII-P and, -Q
1. and 2. SX1535, from the east
3. SX1579, from the east
4. SX1400, from the west
5. SX1592 and 1593, from the northeast
6. SX1578, from the north
7. SX1401, from the south
8. SX1310, from the south
9. SX1572, from the north
10. SX1589, from the northeast
27. Metallurgical artifact 1
28. Metallurgical artifact 2
29. Metallurgical artifact 3
30. Metallurgical artifact 4
31. Metallurgical artifact 5
32. Artifacts of metal, glass, and stone
33. Metallic artifact
34. Artifact related to lacquer work 1
35. Artifact related to lacquer work 2
36. Coin 1
37. Coin 2
38. Ceramic 1
39. Ceramic 2
40. Ceramic 3
41. Ceramic 4
42. Ceramic 5
43. Ceramic 6
44. Ceramic 7
45. Wooden object 1
46. Wooden object 2
47. Wooden object 3
48. Wooden object 4
49. Wooden object 5
50. Wooden object 6
51. Wooden tablets, lacquer soaked paper with inscriptions
52. Lacquer soaked Paper with inscriptions
53. Brick 1
54. Brick 2
55. Faunal and Plant remains
56. Artifacts from Feature containing ritually buried Pottery SX1535
57. Artifacts from Feature containing ritually buried pottery SX1400
ENGLISH SUMMARY
This report summarizes the achievements of excavations carried out by the Yamato-Koriyama Municipal Board of Education in 1984 and by the Nara National Cultural Properties Research Institute from 1985 to 1986. The excavations took Place in Kujo-cho, Yamato-Koriyama City, Nara Prefecture Prior to the remodeling or a garbage Processing Plant in the northern Part of the city.
The excavated areas, which extend for approximately 7,400 square meters, are historically designated as the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Tsubo 坪 [Blocks] of the First Bo 坊 [Ward] on the Hachijo Oji 八条大路 [Eighth Major-Street] in the ukyo 右京 [Western Sector] of the Heijo 平城 Capital [in use 710-784, A.D.] (see Fig. 1). In the vicinity of the site are the Nishi Ichi 西市 [West Market] and the Rajo Mon 羅城門 [South Central Gate] (see Fig. 2). These excavations confirmed long-held expectations of the existence of state-sponsored workshops for metallurgy and the production of lacquer were during the Nara Period [710-794].
Major Excavated Features
Excavations have uncovered evidence of numerous structures, fences, alleys, ditches, wells, and pits. Most of these are dated to the Nara Period, which is divided into four phases in this volume: Phase I (early half of the Early Nara Period), Phase II (later half of the Early Nara Period), Phase III (early half of the Late Nara Period), and Phase IV (later half of the Late Nara Period.)
i) Features of the Phases I and II (Early Nara Period)
Metal work and lacquer ware workshops appear to be confined largely to the Fourteenth Block, while what appears to be the remains of governmental office complex (kanga 官衙) occupies the Thirteenth Block.
The northern half of the Fourteenth Block is divided into two clusters of features by a fence. Each cluster, one in the north and the other in the south, consists of a well structures and a smelting furnace. The smelting furnaces are not intact; most of the features have been destroyed by Pits filled with metal slag, and discarded metallurgical tools such as crucibles and tuyeres. We did, however, discover fragments of the furnace wall and the wall of a Pit baked by excessive heat. The great quantity of charred material associated with these features is indicative of metal Production.
In the southern half, we discovered a three-room building with a veranda (hisashi 庇), which we suspect was a central Part of this workshop complex. Surrounding this building were numerous structures. Some of these structures may have functioned as storehouses, since they are supported by many more pillars than would typically be found in residential structures, and this would seem to be sonsistent with a reinforced superstructure.
Unlike the case of the metal workshop, none of the features in the Fourteenth Block can be directly linked to lacquer ware production. We, nonetheless, suspect that such features exist to the east of the Present limits of the excavation, because artifacts related to lacquer ware are concentrated along the eastern edge of the excavation.
In the Thirteenth Block, we have discovered a cluster of architectural remains which presumably pertain to a governmental office complex. The center of this building complex consists of two major structures, the Main Hall and Front Hall, wells, storehouses, and open areas. We assume that this complex occupied one or one-half cho町1. It is noteworthy that the whole building complex faces north towards the workshops of the Fourteenth Block, rather than south which would be the standard orientation. This leads us to suspect that the complex was closely linked to the workshops, reinforcing the impression of state sponsorship.
Other important discoveries include features containing ritually buried pottery. Some pottery contained ritual objects used for ground-breaking ceremonies in connection with construction of some structures.
ii) Features of the Phases III and IV (Late Nara Period)
In the Late Nara Period, the whole character of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks changes, and these Blocks become purely residential.
The Thirteenth Block is divided into the eastern and western sectors by a fenced alley. The northern half of the western sector consists of two residences within an area that corresponds to one sixteenth of a block. These residences are nearly square in plan, which is very unusual. The southern half of the western sector consists of four residences in the area of one thirty-second of a block. Each residence is composed of two to three buildings and a well.
In the Fourteenth Block, the wall which formerly marked the southern boundary of the Block was torn down and replaced by a fence during the Late Nara Period. Similarly, the wall dividing this Block into the eastern and western sectors became an alley. The eastern sector was divided into four parcels or which only one thirty-second of a block was alloted for residences and two parcels of one sixteenth block residential allotments. The alley only extends to the end of northernmost residential allotments, rather than to the northern end of this Block, suggesting that the sole purpose of this alley was to to provide egress for the inhabitants. As was the case of the Thirteenth Block, these one sixteenth block residences are square in plan. While such residences generally consist of one Main Hall, a well, and a store house, one of the residences in this Block has two Main Hall-structures.
In addition to the remains of residences, we have discovered several features containing ritually buried Pottery in the Thirteenth and the southern half of the Fourteenth Block. Some pottery contain female afterbirth, presumably wishing new-born babies a good health. These features are dated to the Late Nara Period when these Blocks were turned into residential districts.
Artifacts Discovered at the Site
The metallurgical tools which have been discovered in the Fourteenth Block are particularly noteworthy for several reasons. The crucibles are of interest because most of them have been refashioned from regular Haji wares. In addition, the crucibles from the Thirteenth Block are small. This fact, taken together with the discovery of unfinished metal belt fittings, suggests that this workshop specialized in the production of small items. A rare from of L-shaped tuyeres (Figs. 90 and 91) is also worthy of note.
Furthermore, a well at the southern end of the Thirteenth Block dated to the Late Nara Period yielded numerous metallurgical tools, such as iron tongs, iron dippers, as well as large whetstones, unfinished copper products and a great quantity of charred material. Although we could not detect clear features of a metal workshop, we suspect that such features exist to the south of our excavated areas.
The artifacts associated with the lacquer ware industry include discarded lacquer containers and sheets of paper soaked in lacquer. The lacquer containers are Sue wareｸwhich have been broken up to extract the half-solidified lacquer Inside, indicating intensive use of lacquer. Since some of the lacquer containers were made outside of the Kinki region, we suspect that lacquer was entering the Capital from several different sources. In addition, we have discovered a bunch of grass fibers used for the stopper of a container and paper used for the lid of a container. All of these strongly indicate the presence of a lacquer craft workshop. Some of the paper which has been soaked and Preserved in lacquer consists of recycled sutras, census registrations, and record of taxpayers’ registrations, clearly demonstrating active governmental involvement in the industry.
Other artifacts which suggest the nature of this site include: wooden tablets with inscriptions, one of which has the character Hata (秦[family name]); a crown made of lacquered cloth (shissha kan 漆沙冠), fuhon ｡富本 coins, bronze mirror decorated with marine mammals and grape vine (kaijyu budo kyo 海獣葡萄鏡), roof tiles glazed in three colors, ceramic ink stones with sheepshead decoration, ceramics imported from Silla, Korea (668-935), pottery with inscriptions in ink.
Nature of the Site
As was mentioned previously the site covers the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks of the First ward on the Eighth Street, Western Sector of the Heijo Capital. It is evident that metal and lacquer ware workshops occupied the Thirteenth Block, and a cluster or buildings presumed to be a governmental office complex were located in the Fourteenth Block in the Early Nara Period. In the late Nara Period, these two Blocks were turned into residential districts.
As we have noted, there is good reason to believe that the workshops were under direct governmental control. Historical records suggest that the workshops belonged to the organizations such as Imono no Tsukasa [典鋳司 Bereau of Metal Production] and Nuribe no Tsukasa [漆部司 Bereau of Lacquer Work] under the okura Sho [Ministry of Finance]. If this is indeed the case, the duster of buildings in the Fourteenth Block are likely to be an administrative facility for these workshops.
For the residential districts in the Late Nara Period, we have distinguished two classes of allotments: one sixteenth of a block and one thirty-second. These Fourteenth and Thirteenth Blocks are unique in that the one sixteenth parcels are square in plan, rather than the usual horizontal rectangle. Another significant discovery is the existence of one thirty-second block parcels, which are described in historical sources, but which had not been confirmed until the recent discovery at the Tenth Block, Third Ward on Ninth Street, the Eastern Sector or the Capital. These two discoveries push back the beginning dates of the shigyo hachimon [四行八門] system 1 (see Fig.95) to the Late Nara Period. If indeed this is the case, the square pared in the area of one sixteenth of a block may represent two units of residential allotments under this system rather than the usual allotment system in effect during the Nara Period.
In general, people of the lower classes were given smaller parcels of land to the out of the Fifth Major Street, farther from the Heijo Palace. This standard Practice may not hold true for the case of residences in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Blocks. One factor is its close proximity to the West Market, which was one of two national redistribution and trade centers. Another factor is the discovery of metallurgical artifacts dated to the Late Nara Period. Therefore, feature research should help to resolve such questions on the nature or these residences.
In conclusion, the major gain of this series of projects is that we have for the first time grasped the nature or government controlled workshops in the Capital. While the nature of the Late Nara Period features still remain subject to further discussion, this report, nonetheless, provides invaluable data for understanding residences during the Late Nara Period.
1 A unit of area; in the Heijo Capital, one cho equals one Tsubo or Block and is roughly 16,900 square meters in area; hereafter referred to as a “block”.
1 Literally, “four columns and eight gates system”; the land allotment system common in the Heian Capital; a square piece of land is divided into four columns, and each column is further divided into eight rows, thereby creating thirty-two parcels of land.
