Yoshinogari Site
Yoshinogari Yayoi Settlement · Yoshinogari Historical Park
Yayoi period 400 BCE–300 CE (peak 1st–3rd c CE)·Yayoi (Kyushu farmer, Korean peninsula immigrants)·🇯🇵 Saga Prefecture, Kangotown, Yoshinogari Hills, Japan
About
About Yoshinogari Site
Largest Yayoi (400 BCE–300 CE) moated village and chiefdom at Yoshinogari hills, 40 ha inner enclosure within 117 ha, with outer moat 2.5 km, watchtowers, raised-floor granary precinct, and king's sanctuary holding 3,000 jar burials. Probable Yamatai? Mentioned in Wei Zhi (3rd c) as Na? but central Kyushu Yayoi rice polder society transitioning to Kofun.
Why it mattersLargest Yayoi (400 BCE–300 CE) moated village and chiefdom at Yoshinogari hills, 40 ha inner enclosure within 117 ha, wi
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Wei Zhi Yamatai identification – Yoshinogari vs Makimuku?
- 02Inner enclosure as palace or ritual granary?
Theories
- 01Yamatai controversy anchors Yayoi state formation timing
- 02Moated Yayoi defense prefiguring Yamato Kofun mound labor organization
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.400 BCE founding; fortifications 2nd c CE intensified
- Period
- Yayoi period 400 BCE–300 CE (peak 1st–3rd c CE)
- Culture
- Yayoi (Kyushu farmer, Korean peninsula immigrants)
- Purpose
- Moated paddy-field chiefdom storing rice tribute and controlling Korean import iron
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.400 BCE founding; fortifications 2nd c CE intensified
Initial construction
c. 1335 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
33.3240° N · 130.3840° E · 16 m · 3 mapped features
- North Inner Enclosure (palace)enclosureElevated central precinct with king hall reconstructed33.3250° N · 130.3850° E
- South Jar Burial Cemeterycemetery3000+ jar coffin burial cluster33.3230° N · 130.3840° E
- Outer moat and watchtowersmoatV-shaped moat and palisade with reconstructed towers33.3245° N · 130.3830° E
Gallery