Nonakado stone circle(east)

Oyu stone circle ruins site is a 4,000 year old site comprising two large circles and a number of other stone structures and ruins. The Nonakado is 42 m in diameter while the Manza is 48 m. To construct the two circles, rocks were carried from the Akuya River, about five kilometres away east of the site. Important artefacts, including bowls, urns, charms and tools have also been excavated from the site.

Below: Manza stone circle (east)

Ceremonial stone circles first appeared at the beginning of Jomon era. Hundreds of stone circles and stone features have turned up all over Japan.

Some of them have been excavated but many were already lost to us when farmers inadvertently got rid of the stones in their fields.

What were these circles built for? Why were people willing to labour for months to build these circles?

Were the stones (some of them sundial-like) some sort of astronomical calendar device, or were the circles grave markers?

Were they sites for great hunting or feasting ceremonies?

Or were they places where people came to worship celestial gods and beings? For more on this topic, click here. 

Left: Wappara stone circle. 

The Wappara stone circle consists of upright long stones arranged in a circular pattern. 

Elaborate stone circles were found at several sites in the Chubu region dating from the Middle Jomon era and archaeologists have discovered particularly large numbers in Hokkaido and northern Tohoku from the Late and Final Jomon era.

Left: Komakino Stone Circle

The three photos above were photographed at the Tokoro Archaeological site near Lake Saroma, Hokkaido

Except for the photos of the Tokoro Stone Circles (above) which are mine (COPYRIGHT KAWAGOE), the photos above are pending permission from owners.  Photo credits will be duly posted once permission is granted. 

Left: Oyu stone circle from the air.