Japan’s oldest wooden mask found!

Nation’s oldest wooden mask unearthed

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A wooden mask unearthed at the Makimuku ancient ruins in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, is the oldest discovered in the nation, the city’s municipal board of education has announced.

The mask, which dates back to the early third century, is of a human face and appears to have been made from the wooden blade of a farming hoe. It may have been used in an agricultural ceremony, the board said.

The remains were found in an area believed to have been part of the influential Japanese kingdom of Yamatai-koku, the location of which has long been debated by experts.

The mask, sickle handles and shields were unearthed from a well near the center of the ruins.

The oak mask is 26 centimeters long and 21.5 centimeters wide. The hole where the hoe blade connected with the handle was used to create the mouth, which is 3.4 centimeters in diameter.

The mask’s eyes, each 1.2 by 3.5 centimeters, are believed to have been carved later by its maker. The nose was sculpted in the center, while the eyebrows are simple carved lines.

The mask has no holes for straps, suggesting that it was held by hand rather than worn on the face.

The burial mounds near the ruins are among the oldest in Japan and are directly associated with the early Yamato dynasty.

The mask may provide insight into ancient ceremonies, according to the municipal board of education.

(Sep. 28, 2007)

 

国内最古の木製仮面が出土  奈良・纒向遺跡

邪馬台国の有力候補地として知られる奈良県桜井市の纒向（まきむく）遺跡で、弥生時代末期−古墳時代初期（３世紀 前半）とみられる木製仮面が出土し、市教育委員会が２６日、発表した。神戸市の宅原（えいばら）遺跡で見つかった仮面（７世紀初め）を約４００年さかのぼ り、国内最古。

鍬を転用、豊作祈願の際に「神の顔」として使ったとみられる。鎌の柄や朱塗りの盾の破片も一緒に発掘され、当時の農耕祭祀の実態を知る第１級の史料となりそうだ。

　仮面はアカガシ製で、長さ２６センチ、幅２１・５センチ。鍬として使った痕跡はほとんどなく、ほぼ完全な形。柄を差し込むための穴を口に見立て、鼻の穴も開け、線刻したまゆ毛の周辺に赤い顔料がわずかに残っていた。

裏面はほぼ平らで、かぶるためにひもを通す穴はなかった。桜井市教委は「祭りの際は手に持って顔を覆ったのだろう」としている。

 

【写真説明】
奈良県桜井市の纒向遺跡から出土した、３世紀前半とみられる国内最古の木製仮面＝２６日、桜井市立埋蔵文化財センター

Shosoin opens

Shoso-in treasure house doors opened; 70 items to appear in annual exhibition

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Six doors of the Shoso-in treasure house in Nara that are usually sealed according to imperial order were opened during an annual ceremony Wednesday.

Before entering the treasure house, 17 people, including an imperial envoy, purified their mouths and hands with water.

Of Shoso-in’s about 9,000 pieces, including some associated with Emperor Shomu (701-756), 70 items will be displayed at this year’s 59th Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures.

The exhibition will be held at the Nara National Museum from Oct. 27 to Nov. 12.

Various items in the collection will be examined by experts before the treasure house is resealed on Nov. 30.

This year’s exhibition will include such pieces as Shitan Kinden no Egoro, a handled incense burner made of red sandalwood used during Buddhist ceremonies; Sumie no Dankyu, a toy bow designed to shoot balls instead of arrows; Kasen, a wool rug with two large floral patterns; and a wu, a type of musical pipe imported to Japan in the 7th century.

The exhibition is being organized by the museum with the special cooperation of The Yomiuri Shimbun.

(Oct. 4, 2007)

Another article and more information can be found here.

New Pollen Discovery

Pollen discovery offers clues about China trade

The Yomiuri Shimbun

NARA–The nation’s oldest safflower pollen, dating from around the mid-third century, was discovered in large quantities at the Makimuku ancient ruins in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, the city board of education announced Tuesday.

Used in red dyes, safflowers are believed to have come to Japan from China. The pollen found is believed to be from three centuries earlier than the material previously thought to be the oldest in the nation.

The ruins are said to have been part of the kingdom of Yamatai-Koku, the location of which has long been debated by experts. A Chinese document of the time, “Gishi Wajin-Den,” states that Yamatai-Koku Queen Himiko gave red and blue fabric to the Wei dynasty, now China, in 243, according to the board.

Soil from a ditch dug up in 1991 at the ruins was examined by Associate Prof. Masaaki Kanehara of Nara University of Education. He found the soil contained a large amount of safflower pollen, much more than is contained in regular soil.

Experts believe waste fluid from a dyeing workshop was poured into the ditch.

A number of keyhole-shaped ancient tombs, building remains and clay pots from around Japan have been found at the Makimuku ruins. In September, the oldest wooden mask ever found in the nation was unearthed from the ruins. The ruins are believed to have been the first metropolitan area to serve as a high-level trading center.

The finding suggests that a kingdom in the area might have engaged in trade and diplomatic activities with the continent.

Hironobu Ishino, director of Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Archaeology, said, “There’s little doubt that [safflower] processing technology had been introduced to Japan from the continent.

“It [the discovery of the pollen] is believed to be evidence of international exchanges, and it supports the idea that the Makimuku ruins were part of the Yamatai-Koku kingdom.”

(Oct. 4, 2007)