Moriyama Ruins

A Jomon Village above the Kizu River

The Moriyama Ruins (森山遺跡, Moriyama Iseki) is a settlement site centred on the Late Jomon period in Tomino, Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, which in 1978 was designated a Historic Site.

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it lies on a terrace overlooking the Kizu River, which flows north-south along Joyo's western edge. Besides the village of the middle Late Jomon period, there are features and finds of the Yayoi and Kofun periods.

The Agency values it as a core settlement with abundant finds, in a region where Jomon villages are scarce.

The Jomon Village

The Agency describes a round pit dwelling about 10 metres across and five more of 6 to 10 metres. Their floors have shallow sunken hearths.

Around the dwellings are pits of unknown purpose, but few in the southwest, which is thought to have been the village square. A cluster of fist-sized stones found on the southern edge may mark a grave.

Finds include pottery of the Motosumiyoshiyama to Miyataki types of the middle to later Late Jomon, 170 arrowheads, 55 hammerstones, 4 grinding stones and 4 stone rods. Large quantities of sanukite flakes show that stone tools were made here on a large scale.

Yayoi and Kofun Features

The Agency also records two Yayoi pit dwellings and a jar burial, and twelve Kofun-period pit dwellings and another jar burial.

Most striking is an early Kofun feature: a rectangular raised platform 40 metres east to west and 32 metres north to south, surrounded by a ditch 4 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep. Early Haji pottery of the Furu type, including pedestal bowls and small round-based pots, was found together in the southwest corner of the ditch, and some suggest a special use such as funerary rites.

Visiting the Moriyama Ruins

Joyo City says the Moriyama Ruins are laid out as a historic park, with the framework of a Jomon pit dwelling reconstructed. The site is about 5 minutes on foot north of Nagaike Station on the JR Nara Line.

To protect the remains, do not dig or climb on the reconstructed dwelling. Enquiries go to Joyo City.