NABUNKEN NEWS vol.49

Nabunken's efforts for excavation involving recovery projects

　Currently, a large number of excavations are being carried out in areas affected by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake that struck off the Pacific Coast. Many expert staff-members related to buried cultural properties were dispatched from local municipal entities all over Japan and are working on the support for these investigations, which aim at rapidity and efficiency, in order not to delay recovery projects.

　The Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has also proceeded with preparations to create support using various techniques/technologies related to excavations, and, is ready to dispatch our staff members immediately upon receipt of a request for dispatch, in response to the details of the request. As a matter of fact, we have already dispatched staff members to some local municipal entities. For example, we undertook a range of excavation support using: (i) ground-penetrating-radar exploration technologies, and 3D laser/photographic surveying technologies (by the Archaeological Research Methodology Section, Center of Archaeological Operations); (ii) high altitude remote shooting technologies via a digital single lens reflex camera (by the Photography Section, Department of Planning and Coordination); and, (iii) analyses of animal remains unearthed from shell middens (by the Environmental Archaeology Section, Center of Archaeological Operations), as well as quite short excavations (by the Department of Imperial Palace Sites Investigations) at the Sakurada IV site, Hirono town, Fukushima Pref. and the Hanukidate site, Kesen-numa City, Miyagi Pref.

　Although the support projects by the Nabunken have only just begun, everyone at the Nabunken will continue our support as much as possible as a measure until the day when those in the disaster areas are able to regain their sense of peace.

(WATANABE Takehiko, Department of Imperial Palace Sites Investigations)

Sakurada Ⅳ site shot by using high altitude remote shooting