Mysterious tortoise-shaped aqueduct uncovered - Japan Press

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Wes von Papine�u on May 16, 2000 at 19:57:00:

CHUNICHI SHIMBUN (Nagoya, Japan) 23 February 00 Mysterious tortoise-shaped aqueduct uncovered
An aqueduct and a stone water tank, made in the image of tortoises, were discovered along with signs of ditches at an excavation site just north of "Sakafune Stone" -- a mysterious stone object found in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture -- the Asuka Village Board of Education announced on Feb. 22.
Since the discovery of the aqueduct, with obvious religious implications as a sanctuary to stones and tortoises, experts believe that they were a part of a structure that was a religious or ceremonial facility built during Emperor Saimei's reign (655-661 BC).
It was also during the age that an ancient book, "Nihon Shoki," described mass construction works.
The site is the most secluded part of a valley surrounded by ridges in the east and west.
The remnants of the facility are located parallel to the ridges and have stone steps and walls on the east and west ends.
At the flat area in the middle is a granite-paved floor flanked by stone rows of processed sandstone, and at right in the center is the aqueduct facilities running from south to north.
The southernmost aqueduct facility is an oval-shaped stone structure (1.65 m X 1 m) and after that, a tortoise-shaped stone object (2.4 m X 2 m) and north-south ditch locates in the northern end of the site.
All objects are made of granite and are designed to act as water tanks.

Mysterious tortoise-shaped aqueduct uncovered

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: CHUNICHI SHIMBUN (Nagoya, Japan) 23 February 00 Mysterious tortoise-shaped aqueduct uncovered : An aqueduct and a stone water tank, made in the image of tortoises, were discovered along with signs of ditches at an excavation site just north of "Sakafune Stone" -- a mysterious stone object found in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture -- the Asuka Village Board of Education announced on Feb. 22. : Since the discovery of the aqueduct, with obvious religious implications as a sanctuary to stones and tortoises, experts believe that they were a part of a structure that was a religious or ceremonial facility built during Emperor Saimei's reign (655-661 BC). : It was also during the age that an ancient book, "Nihon Shoki," described mass construction works. : The site is the most secluded part of a valley surrounded by ridges in the east and west. : The remnants of the facility are located parallel to the ridges and have stone steps and walls on the east and west ends. : At the flat area in the middle is a granite-paved floor flanked by stone rows of processed sandstone, and at right in the center is the aqueduct facilities running from south to north. : The southernmost aqueduct facility is an oval-shaped stone structure (1.65 m X 1 m) and after that, a tortoise-shaped stone object (2.4 m X 2 m) and north-south ditch locates in the northern end of the site. : All objects are made of granite and are designed to act as water tanks. :

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Tortoise Forum ] [ FAQ ]