Continuous Conservation of Saitobaru-fudoki-no-oka (西都原風土記の丘)

The Saitobaru burial mounds are located in the southeast of Saito City, Miyazaki Prefecture, which is on the Saitobaru Plateau (西都原台地), south of the Hitotsuse River (一ツ瀬川). The main part of the site is in Oaza Miyake (大字三宅). The designated area occupies 58 ha, with more than 319 burial mounds including the possible royal tombs of Osahozuka (男狹穗塚) and Mesahozuka (女狹穗塚). The site dates from the 3rd century to the 7th century A.D. (Fig. 6.1). Because the biggest burial mounds have been found in

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Kyushu Area, the research of the Underground Tomb (地下式横穴墓), as well as the chronology and layout of Saitobaru burial mounds, is vitally important (HONGOU 2005:

11-16).

Figure 6.1 Location of the Saitobaru-fudoki-no-oka (Source: Website of Saitobaru Archaeological Museum³¹)

The research of Saitobaru burial mounds started from the Taisho Period (大正時代).

Kyoto Imperial University (京都帝国大学) and Tokyo Imperial University (東京帝国大 学) have both conducted excavation and measurements at the site. However, due to the robbery of the Mochida burial mounds (持田古墳群) which occurred in 1929-1930, the research of all burial mounds in the Miyazaki Prefecture remained frozen until the implementation of the Fudoki-no-oka project.

31 http://saito-muse.pref.miyazaki.jp/web/guidance.html. Accessed August 19, 2017.

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The conservation of Saitobaru burial mounds stemmed from the Fudoki-no-oka project, and has been conducted several times with a national subsidy. In particular, there is one conservation project carried out by the prefectural government. Specific projects are described in greater detail below.

(1) First Attempt at Conservation

The conservation of burial mounds is regarded as highly important in Japan. The Saitobaru burial mounds were chosen as the first Fudoki-no-oka project because of their research values, and their relationship with the surrounding environment (HONGOU 2005:

23-24).

The conservation of Saitobaru burial mounds started in 1965 and was completed in 1968.

The project focused on the overall landscape of burial mounds rather than individual ones.

The overall scene was divided into three different themes: forest, grassland, and trail. The first site museum, named Saitobaru Museum (西都原資料館), was constructed for storing and displaying archaeological and historical materials. In addition, some restorations were conducted in the site park as well as 219 burial mounds, and the surrounding environment and nearby blocks were all conserved as Fudoki-no-oka, Prefectural Natural Park (県立自 然公園) or Prefectural Park (県立都市公園). The target of the first conservation project was to maintain the site and environment.

(2) Second Attempt at Conservation

Thirty years after the completion of the Fudoki-no-oka project, the Saitobaru burial mounds kept their original status while some parts have fallen into disuse. At that time, due to the influence of many restoration projects in Yoshinogari site during 1986-1989, the requirements of re-conserving and utilizing the Saitobaru burial mounds was high (HONGOU 2005: 24-32).

The primary target for the second attempt was to improve the site’s educational and

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experiential functions. The Master Plan for Saitobaru Burial Mounds Conservation (「西 都原古墳群保存整備活用に関する基本計画」) was enacted in 1995 to achieve this target. In the same year, the Saitobaru burial mounds and Ikegami・Sone sites were selected as the first batch of projects funded by the Comprehensive Conservation of Large-scale Archaeological Sites Project and the Comprehensive Conservation of Regional Core Archaeological Sites Project. These projects were implemented in 1995-2002.

In addition to the survey, research and conservation of burial mounds, the Experience Museum of Ancient Life (古代生活体験館) was constructed, which was a comprehensive educational and experiential facility for archaeology in the Miyazaki Prefecture. In the Experience Museum, visitors could experience making fire, magatama, instrument bows, etc.

※ Special Attempt at Conservation

To further promote the utilization of the Saitobaru burial mounds the Miyazaki Prefectural Planning Department (企画調整部), Public Works Section (土木部) and Board of Education (教育委員会), as well as the Saito Municipal Government,decided together to implement the Conservation Project of Saitobaru Burial Mounds and Surrounding Area (「西都原古墳群及び周辺地域整備プロジェクト事業」) in 1999-2003 during the implementation of the second conservation project. The primary target of this project was to construct the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum (宮崎県立西都原考古博物館) of Miyazaki Prefecture. The exhibits in this museum were not limited in relics of the Kofun Period, but also included ones from the Neolithic Period ghrough the contemporary period in the Kyushu Area. The main objective was to ensure the museum continuously introduced new discoveries to replace permanent exhibitions. Meanwhile, this project planned to construct a Tourist Information Center. The primary functions were to offer the tourists additional information in Saito City, to sell local products and ancient foods, and to provide a place for visitors to rest. Local celebrity exhibitions and small meetings could

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also be held here. The volunteer service center was stationed in the center too. In general, this center was a local cultural activities center. Moreover, the project considered the construction of extra parking facilities and improvements to the surrounding road conditions which in turn had a significant impact on regional development.

(3) Third to Fifth Attempt at Conservation

Based on the Master Plan enacted with the second conservation attempt, small-scale conservation projects have been conducted in the Saitobaru burial mounds every four to five years since 1995. The funds for them are mainly collected from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The contents include small range excavation, research, and conservation (Table 6.4).

Table 6.4 Conservation Projects in the Saitobaru Burial Mounds Conservation Project Construction of

Museum Conservation of Burial

Mounds Other

First Attempt:

「風土記の丘」

(1965-1968)

Saitobaru Museum (西都原資料館)

-Found No 5. -Public

ownership of land;

-Infrastructure construction Second Attempt:

「西都原古墳群保存整 備活用に関する基本計 画」(1995-2002) Source: Conservation Report of Special Historic Site Saitobaru Burial Mounds. 2006.

Saitobaru Experience

Museum of Ancient Life (西都原古代生 活体験館)

-Excavated and conserved No.100, No.169 and No.171;

-Conserved No.13 with plant mark, model and interior exhibition;

-Dome exhibition of Sakamoto-no-ue Oketsubo Tunnel

Tombs (酒元ノ上横穴

墓群);

-Interior exhibition of No.206 Oni-no-iwaya Tomb (鬼の窟古墳)

-Public

ownership of land;

-Environment conservation (Figs. 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5)

※ Special Attempt

「西都原古墳群及び周 辺地域整備プロジェク ト事業」(1999-2003)

-Saitobaru Archaeological Museum (西都原考 古博物館)

-Parking lots construction;

-Surrounding road

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-Tourist

Information Center (このはな館)

improvement (Figs. 6.6 and 6.7)

Third Attempt:

「西都原古墳群歴史ロ マン再生空間形成事業」

(2003-2007)

Source: Excavation and Conservation Reports of Special Historic Site Saitobaru Burial Mounds

-Excavated No.46;

-Conserved No.111. -Setting up explanation board.

Fourth Attempt:

「西都原古墳群活用促 進ゾーン整備事業」

(2008-2013)

Source: Conservation Report of the Promotion Zone of Special Historic Site Saitobaru Burial Mounds. 2014.

-Excavated No.201, No.208, No.284, No.4, No.5, No.6, No.10, No.12, and No.16;

-Conserved No.170;

-Excavated and conserved No.46, No.47, and No.202.

-Setting up explanation board

Fifth Attempt:

「西都原古墳群保存整 備基本計画」に基づい て、新規事業(2014－) Source: Excavation and Conservation Reports of Special Historic Site Saitobaru Burial Mounds

-Excavated No.265;

-Re-conserved No. 100. -Setting up explanation board

In summary of Section 6.3, through many conservation projects, the contents of the Saitobaru burial mounds were gradually enriched into local development. The continuous excavation, preservation, and restoration of burial mounds offered more information about the site and the Experience Museum offered the chance for visitors to enjoy ancient lives.

In particularly, the prefectural government played a vital role in the following parts; The creation of a local characteristic as the core of Kofun Culture in the Kyushu Area and the core of archaeology in the Miyazaki Prefecture, and the integration of site conservation with local development through the construction of public facilities and the promotion of tourism.

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Figure 6.2 Dome of the Sakamoto-no-ue Figure 6.3 Interior Exhibition of the Oketsubo Tunnel Tombs Sakamoto-no-ue Tombs

Figure 6.4 Burial Mound No.171 Figure 6.5 Burial Mound No.206 (Oni-no-iwaya-kofun) (Source: Website of Saitobaru Archaeological Museum)

Figure 6.6 Saitobaru Archaeological Museum Figure 6.7 Tourist Information Center (Source: Photos by the author)