Furusutobaru Castle, Gusuku archaeological site in Ishigaki, Japan
Furusutobaru Castle is a hilltop ruin on Ishigaki Island near Miyara Bay, consisting of fifteen separate walled enclosures arranged in a defensive pattern. The site features locally-sourced limestone walls constructed using traditional Ryukyuan building methods that connected multiple storage and living areas.
The fortress was built during the Ryukyu Kingdom period as a stronghold for controlling Ishigaki Island. A decisive battle in 1500 between Nakasone Toyomiya and local leader Oyake Akahachi resulted in the region being fully integrated into Ryukyuan rule.
This site holds meaning for the local community as a reminder of Ryukyuan settlement patterns and defensive strategies. Walking through the ruins, you can observe how stone walls divided space into separate areas for different purposes and protection.
The site is accessible through marked walking paths that wind between the stone enclosures on the hillside. Informational signs placed throughout explain the layout and archaeological discoveries made in past excavations.
Archaeological excavations uncovered Chinese porcelain and local pottery scattered across the site, revealing trade connections with distant regions. These findings show that despite its remote location, the island maintained economic ties to areas far beyond Okinawa.
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