Ōguruwa Shell Midden
Ōguruwa Shell Mound (大曲輪貝塚, Ōguruwa kaizuka) is an archaeological site with a shell midden and Jōmon period settlement site located in what is now part of the Mizuho ward of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in the Tōkai region of Japan. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1941.[1]
大曲輪貝塚 | |
 Ōguruwa Shell Mound | |
 .svg.png.webp){kind=icon} Ōguruwa Shell Mound  Ōguruwa Shell Midden (Japan) | |
| Location | Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Tōkai region |
| Coordinates | 35°07′12″N 136°56′35″E |
| Type | midden, settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Jōmon |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | National Historic Site |
| Public access | None |
Overview
The ruins were discovered during the construction of the Mizuho Athletic Stadium in 1939, and despite the designation as a national historic site in 1941, construction of the stadium proceeded over the site. In 1980, when an old stand was demolished for reconstruction of the stadium, it was confirmed that the shell midden remained in good condition, and an excavation survey of about 2200 square meters found a complex ruins from the early Jōmon period with four shell middens. The middens mainly consisted of shells from large oysters and crabs, and the thickness of over 1 meter. The ruins are located in the estuary flood plain of the Yamazaki River, with sand and gravel layers containing rubble of a large size. The Shimouchida Kaizuka found on the opposite bank of the Yamazaki River is also considered to be part of the same settlement, which was occupied through the Yayoi period into the Kofun period.
The site also had numerous tombs from the late Jōmon period, with many grave goods, including stone axes, earthenware and jewelry, as well as several almost complete human remains. The human remains were buried in a fetal position, and are unique in that the bones of a dog were also found on the chest of each body, indicating that they were buried together. In addition to the tombs, the foundations of several pit dwellings were found
The excavated items are stored in the Nagoya City Museum.
References
- "大曲輪貝塚" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
External links
- Nagoya city Mizuho Ward office site (in Japanese)
- Aichi Cultural Properties Navi (in Japanese)