Shinpukuji Shell Mound, Archaeological site in Iwatsuki, Saitama, Japan.
Shinpukuji Shell Mound is an archaeological site on the Omiya Plateau in eastern Saitama with a circular earthwork structure. The remains show where people collected shellfish and other food resources during ancient times.
This site dates to the late Jomon period when the coast was much closer and people relied on marine resources. Over centuries, successive communities accumulated shells and other food remains at this location.
Excavations at the site uncovered a 16-centimeter owl-shaped clay figurine, which received designation as a National Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The site is located within walking distance of Iwatsuki Station and easy to reach by local transit. The grounds are open throughout the year and situated in a quiet residential area.
Excavations uncovered seeds of chestnuts and gourds that reveal what people ate in those times. Such preserved plant remains are rarely found in such good condition, offering insight into daily diet from thousands of years ago.
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