NABUNKEN NEWS vol.46

Investigation of the Palace Courtyard of the Chodo-in State-halls, Fujiwara Palace Site (Asuka-Fujiwara 174th investigation)

 The excavation investigation of the Chotei (palace courtyard) of the Chodo-in (ie., the complex of state halls or government offices) of the Fujiwara Palace has been underway since April 2, 2012. The excavation area this year is located to the immediate east of the area under excavation last year (the 169th) and the year before last (the 163rd). This excavation investigation aims to explore the way that space was used in the palace courtyard, as well as to clarify the actual state of the structural remains that exist in the lower layers which date back to the time of the construction of the Fujiwara Palace.

 Through past investigations, it has become clear that the courtyard was paved with fist-size puddingstones in the final time period. Since it is assumed that the structural remains that exist in the lower layers generate convex-concave surfaces on the puddingstone pavement, every excavation team in the past have been challenged to establish how to record such stone pavement. Therefore, for this investigation, we decided to record 3-dimensionally the microtopographical and convexconcave patterns appearing on the stone pavement, using 3D laser land surveying. The image shown below exhibits the resulting elevation data distinguished by using different colors in a gradation representation. Red parts indicate high-altitude areas, and blue indicates low-altitude areas. Meanwhile, in the east of the excavation area (the upper part of the image), a belt line runs horizontally; which may indicate the structural remains of an aisle constructed during consecutive ages and paved with roof tiles. Although the stone pavement descends from the southeast to the northwest, there are some areas in which irregular subsidence can be confirmed, suggesting the existence of structural remains in the lower layers.

 Based on these results, we will undertake investigations on the lower layer from this coming July by partially removing the stone pavement. Your attention to the progress of this investigation would be appreciated.

(HIROSE Satoru, Department of Imperial Palace Sites Investigations)

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Gradation image for the elevation of the courtyard stone pavement (North is up.)

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