Cave ruins - Cave ruins

These are ruins that retain traces of human use within tunnel-like cavities carved into rock walls by natural erosion. Although caves can also be used to refer to objects that have been artificially excavated from rock walls, the term generally refers to the above. There is also a synonym, "cave," but the term is used in the same way. The temperature inside is fairly constant, cool in summer and warm in winter. They were also protected from wind, rain, and snow, and provided a very comfortable living environment even though they were somewhat damp and dark, so they were often used by ancient people. Limestone caves, unlike sandstone caves, are less prone to rockfalls and are more stable, which may be why they were often used. Based on the state of the remains and excavated artefacts inside the cave, it is clear that (1) there are many remains and hearths near the entrance, and this area was used for daily life; (2) large objects were excavated in the slightly recessed area, where they were stored and human bones were buried; and (3) murals were painted in the deeper, darker areas, indicating that the cave was used as a sacred place for magical beliefs.

The earliest known human species, Australopithecus of South Africa, began using caves, and they became common during the Late Paleolithic period. They are relatively densely distributed from the Dordogne region of southern France to Spain, and Lascaux and Altamira are famous for their many magnificent murals. They are also widely distributed from Libya in North Africa to Palestine, Iraq, Malaysia, China, and Siberia. Zhoukoudian in China is particularly known for the discovery of the Peking Man. In Japan, caves are small in size and shape, but they were common from the Late Paleolithic period to the beginning of the Jomon period, and gradually decreased thereafter, and were used intermittently until the historic period. Well-known sites include Ozakai Cave in Toyama Prefecture, Inome Cave and Sargahana Cave in Shimane Prefecture, Senpukuji Cave in Nagasaki Prefecture, and Ryugado Cave in Kochi Prefecture.

[Yu Aso]

"Japanese Cave Ruins" edited by the Cave Investigation Committee of the Japanese Archaeological Association (Heibonsha, 1967)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

岩壁が自然の侵食作用によってえぐられてできたトンネル状のほらあなの中に、人間が利用した痕跡(こんせき)をとどめる遺跡。人工的に岩壁をくりぬいたものを洞窟とよぶこともあるが、一般には前記をさす。同意語に洞穴(どうけつ)があるが、使用法に差はない。内部の温度はほぼ一定し、夏涼しく冬暖かい。また風雨降雪を避けられ、多少の湿気と暗さがあっても非常に快適な生活環境にあったため、しばしば古代人に利用された。石灰岩の洞窟は砂岩洞窟などと異なって落盤が少なく、安定しているためかよく活用された。窟内は、遺構と出土遺物の状態から、(1)入口付近は炉址(ろし)や遺物が多く、日常生活の場とされ、(2)すこし奥まった部分では大形品が出土し、貯蔵や人骨埋葬が行われ、(3)一段と深い暗い場所には壁画が描かれ、呪術(じゅじゅつ)信仰の聖場として使用されたことなどがわかる。

　最古の人類である南アフリカのアウストラロピテクスから洞窟利用が始まり、後期旧石器時代になって一般化した。南フランスのドルドーニュ地方からスペインにかけては比較的濃い分布を示し、ラスコーやアルタミラなどはりっぱな壁画を多く残していることで有名である。また北アフリカのリビアからパレスチナ、イラク、マレーシア、中国、シベリアまで広く分布がみられる。とくに中国の周口店(しゅうこうてん／チョウコウティエン)は北京(ペキン)原人の発見で知られる。日本の場合は規模外形が小さいが、後期旧石器時代から縄文時代草創期に多く、以後しだいに少なくなり、断続的に歴史時代まで使われた。富山県の大境(おおざかい)洞窟、島根県の猪目(いのめ)洞窟、サルガ鼻(はな)洞窟、長崎県の泉福寺(せんぷくじ)洞穴、高知県の龍河洞(りゅうがどう)などの各遺跡がよく知られる。

［麻生　優］

『日本考古学協会洞穴調査委員会編『日本の洞穴遺跡』（1967・平凡社）』

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