Found at the bottom of a Kumamoto well

DIG A HOLE IN JAPAN and there’s no telling what will turn up. Almost 20 years ago, construction work began for an industrial park in a rural area and uncovered relics that led to one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Japan at what is now the Yoshinogari Historical Park.

The Kumamoto City Board of Education announced on the 19th a discovery much smaller in scale but fascinating nonetheless. Poking around in what was once a well on the site of an old settlement near the Kumamoto City JR station, workers found 43 intact pieces of Chinese ceramics and pottery dating from the 12th century just 50 centimeters below the surface. You can see the condition of the pieces in the accompanying photo.

The settlement, which was found during some redevelopment work a few years ago, existed from the Heian period (794-1185) to the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Ceramics began to be imported from China in large quantities at the end of the Heian period. While similar discoveries have been made throughout the country, seldom have the ceramics been intact.

The pottery had been placed in the well stacked according to type—there were both celadon bowls and plates. Experts think the pieces might have been placed in a box and buried there after being used in a Shinto ceremony to purify the well after it was no longer used. The markings and shape of the bowls suggest they came from two specific kilns in southern China.

The prefecture wasted no time showing their discoveries to the public—the ceramics will be displayed at the prefectural museum starting on the 27th this month, just one month after the well was found at the end of November.

Note: Local Boards of Education (actually called committees) are responsible for handling archaeological discoveries in Japan.