Hirao Daihara Ruins Artifacts

Overview of Hirao Daitaihara Ruins

The Hirao Daihara ruins are located on a slightly lower plateau to the north of Hirao Housing. Excavation surveys were conducted three times between 1977 and 1978, revealing the contents of the ruins. The period of the ruins spans from the Jomon period to the Yayoi period, the Kofun period, and the Nara period, making it a complex site that was occupied for a very long time. A total of 38 pit dwelling sites were discovered: 9 from the Jomon period, 22 from the Yayoi to early Kofun periods, and 7 from the late Kofun to Nara periods. Additionally, 5 square moat tombs from the late Yayoi to early Kofun periods were found. The distinctive feature of this site is the discovery of settlement and burial sites from the Yayoi to early Kofun periods, marking the first discovery of Yayoi period ruins in Inagi City. A large number of artifacts, including pottery and stone tools from each period, were excavated, and particularly important items, totaling 175, have been designated as tangible cultural properties of Inagi City.

Jomon Period Materials

The specified Jomon period artifacts include pottery and stone tools. In terms of pottery, there are five deep bowl-shaped pots from the early, middle, and late Jomon periods, one shallow bowl-shaped pot, one spouted pot, two miniature pots, and six clay products. The deep bowl-shaped pots were used for cooking, and one of them is an early pointed-bottom pot. The spouted pot is a tool for pouring liquids such as sake. The clay products include decorative clay tablets and clay weights. As for stone tools, there are 48 chipped stone axes, five polished stone axes, three stone rods, one pointed tool, three stone plates, 15 grinding stones, four concave stones, 11 stone weights, and one pumice float. The chipped stone axes are digging tools with the same function as hoes and plows, while the polished stone axes were used for felling and processing trees, similar to machetes. The pointed tool is the tip of a stone spear used for hunting, and the stone weights were attached to fishing nets for catching river fish. The stone plates and grinding stones are tools for grinding collected acorns and other items. These excavated items are valuable materials for understanding life during the Jomon period.

Materials from the Yayoi Period to the Early Kofun Period

Materials from this period are rare in the Inagi City area, making them particularly important. They were excavated from residential sites and square-shaped burial mounds dating from the Yayoi period to the early Kofun period. There are 8 jar-shaped pottery pieces, of which 2 were used as burial jars. There are 11 pedestal jars used for cooking. Some show a large amount of soot on their bodies. There are 5 high-footed jars, which were tools for serving or offering food. Additionally, there are a total of 8 pottery pieces including wide-mouthed jars, small jars, jar-shaped pottery, and bowl-shaped pottery. As a special item, one bronze cylindrical decorative fitting was excavated. Bronze decorative items are rare finds and are valuable materials. There are also 3 grinding stones used during this period.

Materials from the Late Kofun Period to the Nara Period

In the pottery from the Kofun period onwards, there are Haji ware and Sue ware. In Haji ware, there are 11 long cylindrical jars for cooking, 1 steamer for food, 11 bowl-shaped pottery used as tableware, 5 bowl-shaped pottery, and 1 clay support leg. In Sue ware, there are 4 bowl-shaped pottery. From the bottom of the bowl-shaped pottery of Sue ware from the Nara period, inscriptions written with the characters "Yin Yang" have also been discovered. During this period, the dwellings were still pit dwellings, but a stove was built in the corner of the dwelling, and pottery such as Haji ware and Sue ware was used accordingly.