下野谷遺跡公園, Archaeological park in Nishitokyo, Japan
Shimonoya Archaeological Park is an archaeological site in Nishitokyo that preserves remains from the Jomon period. The grounds feature reconstructed pit dwellings, educational soil layer models, and open grasslands planted with chestnut and walnut trees.
The settlement was discovered in the 1970s and revealed a large-scale Jomon period community arranged in two concentric circles along the right bank of the Shakujii River. This represented one of the largest known settlements of its era in the region.
The site contains remains from a Jomon period settlement where people lived roughly 5500 years ago. The pottery found here shows connections between this community and distant regions, revealing how people maintained contact across the land.
The park is about 400 meters (1/4 mile) south of Higashi-Fushimi Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line and easily reached on foot. Wearing sturdy shoes is advisable since the grounds are uneven with paths that wind through grassy areas and reconstructed structures.
The site preserves parts of the western settlement beneath the surface while displaying reconstructions and models on the visible grounds showing Jomon period life. This combination allows visitors to experience both authentic remains and educational displays in a single location.
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