The Sannai Maruyama Special Historical Sites contains a variety of ruins. Among them, there are two famous ruins: Remains of large pillar-supported buildings (大型掘立柱建物跡) and Mounds (盛土).
Remains of large pillar-supported buildings
The ruins of Remains of large pillar-supported buildings are a symbol of the Sannai Maruyama Site. The ruins consist of two rows of three columns, each 2 meters in diameter and 2 meters deep, spaced 4.2 meters apart. It is estimated that a huge chestnut tree stood in the hole. Archeologists state that there was a large building about 20 meters high. The use of the building is still controversial. The plausible theories are a watchtower, a lighthouse, and a facility for rituals.
A mound is a place where Jomon earthenware, stone tools, and ornaments were dumped for a long time. The thickest mound in the Sannai Maruyama ruins is about as thick as 2 meters. It is estimated that the mound is not just for dumping but also for some spiritual rituals. Jomon people were engaged socially around the mound and spiritual culture was fostered there. Also, currently, the mounds are helpful for archeologists because various domestic wastes are unearthed.
What is in the Sannai Maruyama ruin? (In English)
The history of Sannai Maruyama ruin (In Japanese)
How to get there?
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https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/about/iseki/
https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/about/door/
https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/common/001556619.pdf
https://www2.nhk.or.jp/school/watch/clip/?das_id=D0005403010_00000
https://jomon-japan.jp/learn/jomon-prehistoric-sites-in-northern-japan
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https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/
https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/about/mounds/
https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/about/remains-structures/
https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/information/#access