NABUNKEN NEWS vol.49

Investigation of the Amakashi-no-oka Toroku site (Asuka-Fujiwara No. 177)

　Amakashi-no-oka hill is a hill about 145 meters above sea level located on the western bank of the Asuka River. The "Nihon-shoki" (lit. Chronicles of Japan) describes that Soga no Emishi/Iruka of Soga clan had a residence on this hill in 644 (Emperor Kogyoku's reign 3).

　In the past, the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties had carried out continuous investigations on a ravine located at the northern foot of the hill. In consequence, we clarified that active land use involving large-scale land reclamation was conducted during the time period from the first half of the 7th century to the beginning of the 8th century, and that the aspects of land use are obviously different between the entrance to/the secluded place of the ravine.

　There are three new survey sectors of this investigation; (i) a smaller ravine located across a ridge in the north-east of the ravine we have continuously investigated; (ii) the western slope of the smaller hill; and, (iii) the top of the ridge. The area of these investigation sections is 1,038 sq. meters in total. This investigation started in December, 2012, and continues to date.

　Unfortunately, we were unable to find any obvious structural remains of ancient times in the investigation sector located on top of the ridge and on the slope. On the other hand, we found an accumulation of various stones, the sizes from that of a human fist to that of a head, spread out on a gentle slope located in the western investigation sector in the ravine area. Although these stones are probably those processed in ancient times, it is still under examination. In addition, in the southeast part of the investigation section, we confirmed the appearance of layers of thick sediment of the soil which may indicate that it was soil used for landfilling the ravine. It is thought that before the landfilling, this ravine was deeper and opened toward the southeast.

　Incidentally, the investigation sector was used as a fruit farm until recently. Then, how was this land used in ancient times? I hope you will look forward to reports of the future progress of our investigations.

(KUWATA Kuniya, Department of Imperial Palace Sites Investigations)

Accumulation of stones spreading out on a gentle slope (Seen from the southwest）