TRENDS IN ARCHAEOLOGY IN JAPANAncient
TAKAHASHI Toru1 & MATSUMOTO Taro2
Fundamental research exclusive to archaeology stayed low-keyed, and ﬁelds that arelikely to provoke discussion among document historians seems more common for thetime being.

1.

General History

Distribution of the 5th series of Iwanami Koza Nihon Rekishi (Iwanami’s Lecture onJapanese History) has begun. Many of books in the series were on the general history ofthe ancient.

2.

Transportation

Research related to transportation was the most common ﬁeld, blessed with new study
results and viewpoints. Sanyodo road and its roadhouses were active topics as exhibitions
and study meetings were held on them. Meshima Roadhouse in Hitachi Province, thatdrew attention in Kanto, has not been conﬁrmed yet as the location of the roadhouse has
not been discovered.
Kodai Kotsu Kenkyukai (Ancient Transportation Society) held the 17th convention onwaterborne trafﬁc, and published results of its previous convention, Kodai Yamaguni
no Kotsu to Shakai (Ancient Trafﬁc in Mountainous Areas and Society) (Yagi Shoten).
Kodai Josaku Kanga Iseki Kentokai (Ancient Josaku and Kanga Sites Society) organizedsites related to josaku (fortiﬁed government ofﬁces) and kanga (government ofﬁce), andcompiled characteristics of roadhouses in Dewa Province from ancient documents.
There was publication of Nihon Kodai Doro no Fukugenteki Kenkyu (Reconstructive
Study of Ancient Japanese Road) (Yoshikawakobunkan) which compiled research resultsfrom many years.
1 Miyagi Prefectural Research Institute of the Tagajo Site, 22–1 Takasaki, Tagajo City, Miyagi 985–0862, Japan
E-mail address not disclosed
2 Ichikawa City Museum of Archaeology, 2–26–1 Horinouchi, Ichikawa City, Chiba 272–0837, Japan
E-mail address not disclosed
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY 3 (2015): 59–61© Japanese Archaeological Association

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JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY 3 (2015): 59–61

Author JAPONICA
ARCHAEOLOGIA

3.

CapitalWhile there were many studies on palaces and capitals such as Asuka, Fujiwara,Heijo, and Heian, as in previous years, other ﬁelds were active this year. In Naniwa, alarge project by Grant-in-Aid for Scientiﬁc Research was concluded. Kodai no Tojo toHigashi Ajia (Ancient Capital and East Asia) was published (Seibundo Shuppan). Jorisei/
Kodaitoshi Kenkyu (Jori System/Ancient City Study) Vol. 29 contained a transcript of apresentation on Shigaraki Palace from previous ﬁscal year. Regarding Nagaoka palace/capital, Nagaokakyo no Rekishi Kokogaku Kenkyu (History and Archaeological Study ofNagaokakyo) was published (Yoshikawakobunkan).

4.

Local government ofﬁce related sites

There is the possibility that the biggest government ofﬁce in Kyushu found at Fukubaru
Chojabaru site, Fukuoka Prefecture could be the early kokucho (provincial governmentofﬁce) prior to its relocation. Kodai Nihon no Shihai Kozo (Control Structures of AncientJapan) (Hanawa Shobo) compared the Hyo (unit of administrative region) systemestablished by Emperor Kotoku and Hyo related sites, as well as discussion based on
results of the excavation of Kume Kanga sites in Ehime Prefecture.

5.

Theories on artifacts and features

There have not been many symposia on pottery study in recent years, Shio no Seisan
Ryutsu to Kanga/Shuraku (Production and Distribution of Salt and Government Ofﬁce/Settlements) (Kuba Pro) discussed various elements comprehensively, mainly on theoriesof pottery used for salt making. Togoku no Doki to Kanga Iseki (Potteries in Togoku
and Government Ofﬁce Sites) (Rokuichi Shobo) developed theories on governmentofﬁces based on detailed analysis. There were other theses in Kanto and Tohoku on thechronology of pottery, dating, and regional characteristics and so on. Other than pottery,noteworthy were an analysis on bows based on typiﬁed picture scrolls (Emaki) andfolklore data, and a presentation on a long governmental facility (Chosha) in the capitaland ritualistic space, at the 17th convention of Kodai Kanga/Shuraku Kenkyukai (Societyfor Ancient Government Ofﬁce and Settlement).

6.

Temples and ceremony

Kofun kara Jiin he: Kanto no 7-seiki wo Kangaeru (From Mounded Tomb to Temple:
Thoughts on 7th Century Kanto) (Rokuichi Shobo) indicates that the relationship between© Japanese Archaeological Association

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TRENDS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Title
IN JAPAN

large mounded tombs in Final Kofun and early temples cannot be explained consistently.
Excavation of river bed features and ritualistic artifacts was reported at Kitashita site,Chiba Prefecture. Cultura Antiqua vol. 65 discussed continuity beyond age and epochs
for transformation of ritual tools, and shrine policies and so on.

7. Settlement
While settlement theory seems stagnated, reexamination of Ohshimago koseki (familyregisters) and surrounding settlements are on the rise. Other than a special featured
article on the topic, it was discussed at joint research with National Institutes for theHumanities, and Ichikawa City tried to sort out buildings in the city history.

8.

DisasterDisaster history should be examined from its methodology as a ﬁeld that could be usefultoday.

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