Nabata ruins

Japanese: 菜畑遺跡 - なばたけいせき

<br /> The remains of a settlement in Nabatake, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. It is located at the tip of a gentle hill facing a plain at an altitude of about 10m. It is the remains of a settlement with rice cultivation ruins believed to be the oldest in Japan, consisting of 16 layers, and the remains of a rice paddy were confirmed in the 12th layer, which is from the latter half of the Late Jomon period. The remains of a rice paddy dating back to the middle of the Yayoi period were also found in the upper layers. The remains of the rice paddy are four small rice paddies measuring just over ^18m2 , and it is believed that rice was cultivated by direct seeding at the time. A wide variety of artifacts were excavated, including wooden hoes, stone knives, stone axes , and pottery. The pottery remains are Yamanodera-type pottery, which is slightly older than the Yuusu -type pottery from the Itazuke site (Fukuoka Prefecture), which was previously considered the oldest. About 250 grains of carbonized rice were also excavated, and more than 100 of them were found to be Japonica. Excavations have uncovered waterways, dams, drainage outlets, and ridge dividers made of wooden stakes and sheet piles, proving that large-scale rice paddies were operated in the early Yayoi period. This is believed to be evidence that rice farming by paddy field cultivation was first practiced in Japan during the late Jomon period, and was designated a national historic site in 1983 ( Showa 58). Currently, the Matsurakan Museum, named after Matsurakoku, which appears in the Gishiwajinden, has been built, and displays carbonized rice excavated from the ruins, as well as agricultural tools such as stone knives, hoes, and sickles, and other materials related to the excavation. Pit dwellings and rice paddy remains have also been restored. It is about a 5-minute drive from Karatsu Station on the JR Karatsu Line and other lines.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

佐賀県唐津市菜畑にある集落跡。標高10m前後の平野に面した緩やかな丘陵の先端部に立地する。日本最古とみられる稲作遺跡をともなう集落跡で、遺構は16層からなり、水田の遺構が確認されたのは縄文時代晩期後半の12層。それより上層にも弥生時代中期までの水田遺構が検出された。水田遺構は18m²余りの小さな4枚の田で、当時は直播きで栽培されたと推測されている。木製の鍬(くわ)、石包丁、石斧(せきふ)をはじめ土器など豊富な遺物が出土した。遺物の土器は、これまで最古とされていた板付遺跡（福岡県）の夜臼(ゆうす)式土器よりも少し古い山ノ寺式土器。炭化米も250粒ほど出土し、そのうち100粒以上がジャポニカ種であることが判明した。弥生時代前期の地層から、大規模な水田が営まれていたことを裏付ける水路、堰、排水口、木の杭や矢板を用いた畦の仕切りなどを発掘。これは縄文時代後期に日本で初めて水田耕作による稲作農業が行われていたことを実証するものと考えられ、1983年（昭和58）に国の史跡に指定された。現在、『魏志倭人伝』に出てくる末盧国(まつらこく)にちなんだ「末盧館」が建てられ、遺跡から出土した炭化米や石包丁、鍬、鎌などの農業用具ほか発掘に関連した資料を展示、竪穴(たてあな)式住居や水田跡も復元されている。JR唐津線ほか唐津駅から車で約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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