The Nature of Japanese Archaeology

Abstract

A GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED archaeologists and scientists scan the screen of a giant video monitor as a minute camera inserted through a tiny hole in the lid brings images from the inside of a vermilion-painted stone coffin closed 1200 years ago. The coffin sits in an open underground chamber in which were placed grave offer-ings (Kidder 1987, 1990; Nara Kenritsu Kashihara Kokogaku Kenkyujo 1990a). Computer-enhanced fiber optics are being used to examine the inside of this undis-turbed burial. Later, after creating an exact copy of the stone coffin, to find out if the lid will hold together while it is lifted, the top of the coffin is removed. The inside is found to be filled with water, on which are floating tiny fragments of exquisite silk textiles. The water is siphoned off, to be tested for the remains of ancient plant pollens, which will give clues to the ancient environment. Fifteen thousand glass beads, a gilded crown, five great swords, and dozens of other precious objects are removed after weeks of careful preparation and recording (Kidder 1989, Nara Ken-ritsu Kashihara Kokogaku Kenkyujo 1990b). Who was buried in this tomb? A powerful clan chief of the Mononobe, locked in a struggle with the Soga clan, for

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