Oyu Circle Stone Archipelago

Japanese: 大湯環状列石 - おおゆかんじょうれっせき

This is a site from the early Late Jomon period located in Nonakado and Manza, Towada Oyu, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture. The site is located in the center of the Kazahari Plateau (170 meters above sea level) on the left bank of the Oyu River. Since its discovery during land reclamation in 1931 (Showa 6), it has been investigated by many scholars. Excavations were carried out by the Cultural Properties Protection Committee and the Akita Prefectural Board of Education in 1951-1952 (Showa 26-27), resulting in the discovery of two stone circles at Nonakado and Manza, as well as the remains of pit dwellings. The two stone circles are spaced about 90 meters apart, and both sites are characterized by a collection of small stone blocks forming a circle, with an outer and inner band forming a double concentric circle. In terms of size, the outer belt of Nonakado has a diameter of 40 meters and the inner belt of 12 meters, while the outer belt of Manza has a diameter of 46 meters and the inner belt of 18 meters. In addition, there are stone arrangement remains called sundial remains at both sites. This is located between the outer belt and the inner belt, a little northwest of the center.

The small stone formations that make up the stone circle were broadly classified into nine types by archaeologist Goto Shuichi (1888-1960). Basically, there is a pit (earth pit) under the stone formation, which is often oval in shape, but some are circular in shape. Its major axis is 1-2 meters, its minor axis 0.6-1.5 meters, and its depth is about 0.7 meters. Most of the pits run along their major axis to the northwest. For this reason, the more likely theory is that it is a type of cemetery, rather than a ritual-related site. Surveys conducted around 1975 confirmed the remains of stone arrangements in addition to Nonakado and Manza. It was designated a national historic site in 1951, and a special historic site in 1956.

[Togashi Yasutoki]

World Heritage Registration

In 2021 (Reiwa 3), the Oyu Stone Circle was registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a constituent asset of the "Jomon Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku" (World Cultural Heritage).

[Editorial Department, January 21, 2022]

"Oyu Town Stone Circle" (1953, Cultural Properties Protection Committee)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

秋田県鹿角(かづの)市十和田大湯字野中堂(のなかどう)、万座(まんざ)にある縄文時代後期前葉の遺跡。遺跡は大湯川左岸の風張(かざはり)台地（標高170メートル）中央部に位置する。1931年（昭和6）耕地整理のとき発見されて以来、多くの学者によって調査されている。1951～1952年（昭和26～27）文化財保護委員会、秋田県教育委員会によって発掘調査され、その結果、野中堂、万座の二つの環状列石と竪穴(たてあな)住居跡などが発見された。二つの環状列石は約90メートルの距離をもって並び、両遺跡とも小単位の組石が集合して環状をなし、外帯、内帯の二重の同心円状をなすのが特徴である。大きさは、野中堂で外帯の径が40メートル、内帯が12メートル、万座で外帯が46メートル、内帯が18メートルである。また両遺跡には日時計遺構とよばれる配石遺構が独立して存在する。これは外帯と内帯の間にあり、中心から少し北西に位置している。

　環状列石を構成する小単位の組石は考古学者の後藤守一(しゅいち)（1888―1960）によって9型式に大別されている。組石の下には基本的に土壙(どこう)（土坑）があり、平面形は小判形が多く、ほかに円形のものもある。大きさは長径1～2メートル、短径0.6～1.5メートル、深さ0.7メートル前後である。土壙の長軸方向は北西をなすものが多い。このことから、祭祀(さいし)関係の遺跡とみるより墓地の一種とみる説が有力である。1975年前後の調査で野中堂、万座のほかに配石遺構が確認されている。1951年国の史跡に、1956年特別史跡に指定された。

［冨樫泰時］