Ayaragigo ruins

Japanese: 綾羅木郷遺跡 - あやらぎごういせき

<br /> The remains of a settlement from the early to middle Yayoi period in Ayaragi, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is located about 250m east of the coast of Hibiki Nada. The southern half of the site was destroyed due to mining of silica sand in the Ayaragi-go Plateau, so only the northern half was designated as a national historic site in 1969 (Showa 44), and issues regarding preserving the site and developing it for industry were discussed. The site is characterized by over 1,000 storage pits and the moats surrounding them. Four moats have been confirmed, and they are large, with a V-shaped cross section, over 2m wide and about 3m deep, but no traces of dwellings have been found on the plateau in previous surveys. Grains such as rice and wheat, and charred seeds of yew, peaches, and chestnuts have been discovered in the storage pits. Animal bones from wild boar, deer, raccoon dog, and whale have also been unearthed, as well as food remains such as sea bream, clams, mussels, and turban shells. Over 2,000 earthenware products have been found, including large jars and pots , clay weights , spindle wheels (spinning tools), egg-shaped clay whistles called touken , and clay figurines with human faces. There are also many stone tools, including farm implements, weapons, fishing equipment, and accessories. Metal tools include sickles and knives. The excavated items have characteristics unique to western Japan during the early Yayoi period, and are important information for estimating the cultural complexity of that period. The neighboring Shimonoseki City Archaeological Museum not only displays excavated items, but also regularly holds general education classes and hands-on classes for making clay flutes and magatama . It is about a 5-minute walk from Kajikurigoudaichi Station on the JR Sanin Main Line.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

山口県下関市綾羅木にある弥生時代前期～中期の集落跡。響(ひびき)灘の海岸から東へ約250mにあり、綾羅木郷台地下層の珪砂(けいしゃ)の採掘によって遺跡の南半分が破壊されたため、北半分だけが1969年（昭和44）に国の指定史跡になり、遺跡の保存と産業開発の問題が議論された経緯がある。この遺跡の特徴は、1000基を超える貯蔵穴とこれらを取り囲む環濠にある。環濠は4ヵ所で確認され、断面がV字状で幅2m以上、深さ約3mという大規模なもので、これまでの調査では台地上に住居跡は見つかっていない。貯蔵用竪穴(たてあな)からは米や麦などの穀物、イチイガシや桃、栗などの種子が炭化した状態で発見され、イノシシやシカ、タヌキ、クジラなどの獣骨、マダイやハマグリ、シジミ、サザエなどの魚介類など食料の残滓(ざんし)も発掘されている。土製品は2000点を超え、大型の甕(かめ)や壺、土錘(どすい)、紡錘車（糸つむぎ器具）、陶塤(とうけん)と呼ばれる卵形の土笛、人面土偶などがある。石器も多く、農具、武具、漁具、装身具などがある。金属器には鎌や刀子などがあげられる。弥生時代前期の西日本特有の特徴を持ち、出土品はその時代の文化複合の様子を推定するうえで重要な資料となっている。隣接する下関市立考古博物館では、出土品の展示ばかりでなく、定期的に一般教養講座や土笛や勾玉(まがたま)作りの体験教室も行っている。JR山陰本線梶栗郷台地(かじくりごうだいち)駅」から徒歩約5分。

出典　講談社国指定史跡ガイドについて　情報

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