NABUNKEN NEWS vol.48

Investigation on East Third Wards on Second Street and East Third Wards on Third Street, Fujiwara Capital site (Asuka-Fujiwara 173-1st investigation)

　The investigation was carried out as a pre-construction survey for improvement work for a water channel. The investigation area extends 118 meters north-south, corresponding to the estimated location of the ancient East Second Avenue and the Second Street. Despite significant disturbance by the modern construction of the channel, we have confirmed the existence of a north-south ditch and four pits.

　The north-south ditch found through this investigation may possibly correspond to the east-side ditch of the East Second Avenue on the ground since some ancient artifacts were unearthed from the filling soil there. Meanwhile, with regard to the Second Street which ran east-west, the estimated location of the north-side ditch was seriously disturbed by the modern water channel. Although the estimated location of the south-side ditch was observable along the western wall of the investigation area, a ditch extending east-west could not be identified. Based on these evidences, it seems that the south-side ditch of the Second Street did not cross over the East Second Avenue.

　In addition, after examining excavated artifacts from the four pits, we have found that they are remains of the early Kofun (tumulus) period. Despite constraints due to the investigation area being long and narrow, and to the ditch locations being apart from one another, we could prove that the land was used in and around the investigation area.

　Furthermore, the current water channel runs linearly in a nearly north-south alignment. Despite a slight deviation from the due direction, the channel corresponds to the borderline between ancient blocks. This may indicate that the north and south-side ditches replacing the east-side ditch of the East Second Avenue have been used continuously from ancient times to the early modern and modern times, despite slight changes in location.

(KIMURA Rie, Department of Imperial Palace Sites Investigations)

Full view of the entire investigation area seen from the east