Located in between the cities of Fukuoka and Saga on the island of Kyushu is probably on of the most ancient, interesting and unique historic sites in Japan.
The Yoshinogari Site was originally an archaeological site where many ancient artifacts were found, such as mirrors, daggers, coins, tools, bells and even human hair were found, among other things. Archaeologists started performing excavations in the area in 1986, and found remnants of civilizations dating back to the Japanese Yayoi period back in 400 BC. In the early 1990s, the Japanese government decided to turn the archaeological site into the Yoshinogari Historical Park, and they've since reconstructed many old structures that do a pretty good job at displaying what life was like back then.
As soon as you enter the park you are greeted with an enclosure featuring two watchtowers and a bunch of small, covered huts, with an underground interior.
Some figures were even placed inside the homes in order to demonstrate the lives of the people living there. There was a short description beside each of the huts, explaining who lived there, and the rank of the families inhabiting the specific enclosures. It was all quite hierarchical there, as the King, his family and his servants were in one area, you could see the priest and religious folk in another area, and some areas were reserved for common citizens as well as poorer workers/servants.
Despite the different ranks, most of the huts looked quite similar to each other. The majority of the "richer" huts were slightly elevated above the ground, and you needed to climb a short staircase to get in. The remaining huts were on the ground, and you needed to descent a short staircase in order to access the underground living quarters.
What I liked was that there were many everyday items displayed for all to see. We were able to see what kind of food they ate, their weapons, and even what kind of clothes they wore.
The high priest's hut was especially impressive, as it was several storeys high and was quite spacious. Inside, we saw various rituals being performed, and many people praying.
You could really feel as if you were in ancient times when observing the entire scene from above. The watchtowers allowed for the opportunity to climb up high and take it all in.
Perhaps the most interesting exhibit in the entire park was the burial ground. The king's burial ground was a huge, unimpressive-looking mound with a large, excavated interior. The deceased were laid to rest in the fetal position in egg-shaped cases and then placed on the ground.
Overall, a fascinating experience, and a trip definitely worth the detour for anyone who's in the area. Admission cost me no more than 400 Japanese Yen, which comes out to roughly $4.90 CAD or $3.75 USD. It's incredible to journey back to prehistoric times, especially in a historic park as big as this one.
-Daniele
