Rikuhira Shell Mound - Okadaira Shell Mound

Japanese: 陸平貝塚 - おかだいらかいづか

<br /> A horseshoe-shaped shell mound and settlement site from the early to late Jomon period located in the central area of the southern shore of Lake Kasumigaura in Magaki, Miho Village, Inashiki District, Ibaraki Prefecture. It is famous as the first site to be excavated by Japanese people who were mentored by Edward S. Morse in 1879 (Meiji 12). The site is on a tongue-shaped plateau measuring approximately 250m east to west and 150m north to south, with eight shell mounds of various sizes scattered across the slopes of the plateau. The shell layers are distributed in a circular pattern, and artifacts that have been excavated include pottery, clay figurines, clay products, stone tools, bone and horn tools, and shell products. Animal remains include mainly clams, as well as shells of shellfish that live in the inland bay, such as the Japanese oyster, ark shell, cockle, oyster, and red oyster. Fish bones of black porgy, sea bass, and pufferfish, and animal bones of deer, wild boar, and rabbit have also been excavated. It is one of the largest shell mounds in Japan, and was designated a national historic site in 1998 (Heisei 10) because it is a valuable archaeological site that allows a clear understanding of the process of change. Pit dwellings have been restored based on excavation surveys. Take the JR bus from Tsuchiura Station on the JR Joban Line to Otani and walk for about 25 minutes.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

茨城県稲敷郡美浦村馬掛(まがき)の霞ヶ浦南岸中央部にある縄文時代早期から晩期にかけての馬蹄形貝塚とその集落跡。1879年（明治12）にエドワード・S・モースの薫陶(くんとう)を受けた日本人の手により、初めて発掘調査が行われた遺跡として名高い。所在するのは東西に約250m、南北に約150mの舌状台地上で、台地の斜面に大小8つの貝塚が点在する。貝層は環状に分布しており、遺物は土器や土偶、土製品、石器、骨角器、貝製品が出土。動物遺体としてはハマグリを中心に、シオフキ、サルボウ、ハイガイ、マガキ、アカニシなどの内湾に生息する貝の貝殻のほか、クロダイ、スズキ、フグなどの魚骨、シカ、イノシシ、ウサギなどの獣骨も出土した。国内でも規模の大きい貝塚群であり、その変遷過程も明瞭に推察できる貴重な遺跡であることから1998年（平成10）に国の史跡に指定された。発掘調査をもとに竪穴(たてあな)式住居などが復元されている。JR常磐線土浦駅からJRバス「大谷」下車、徒歩約25分。

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