Toro (archaeological site)

Toro (Japanese登吕 遗迹, Toro Iseki, " Toro archaeological site " ) is an archaeological site of the late Yayoi period, 130 km south of Tokyo, in the district of the municipality Toro Suruga from Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Overview

Toro is considered the first archaeological dig in the remains of wet rice cultivation from the 1st century AD, the late Yayoi period, were found. The archaeological site was discovered in 1943 during the Second World War, during construction work for a weapons factory and opened up in the subsequent years 1947-48. In addition to the landscape architectural remnants were found also architectural remnants of " Burrow " and " Erbodenwohnungen ". Significantly Toro is especially because almost complete settlement from the Neolithic period afforded and because of the state of preservation of the finds was so good that 2000 year old tools made ​​of wood were found. While renewed excavations from 1999 to 2004 more artifacts have been discovered.

The archaeological finds of Toro provoked so much interest among Japanese archaeologists that in 1948 the " Japanese Archaeology Association " (Japanese Archaeology Association) was formed to investigate the findings. Although it was assumed that North Kyushu represented the center of the early settlement in the Yayoi period and the Tōkai region, in the Toro is rather played a marginal role in the excavation site is now considered eponymous locality.

Excavation

The total size of the excavation site Toro comprises 330,000 m². A total of 12 Erdgrubenwohnungen were discovered and two stilt houses, which are believed that they were used for storage. The Erdgrubenwohnungen have a living space of about 6 × 8 meters surrounded by a double 30 cm high enclosure made ​​of stone. Four wooden pillars support a hipped roof, spanning the rafters until almost to the ground and was covered with straw. The high- set dwellings had at the entrance of a wooden ladder that were tapped.

In addition, 30 rice fields were dug 370 meters long and narrow irrigation channels.

The site is currently a publicly accessible green space that is classified since 1952 after the Cultural Protection Act as a nationwide "Special Historic Site " (Special National Historic Site ). The complex includes five meter high replicas of the Erdgrubenwohnungen found and a museum where many of the artifacts found can be visited.

The area now under the protection of culture with 70 182 m² less than the entire excavation site. This includes an area of ​​59,900 m², which was appointed "Special Historic Site, " and the 24,690 m² rice fields, 39,700 m² settlement remains and parking space and 5211 m² museum area covers.