Archaeological heritage on campus

The Office of Archaeological Heritage Management conducts archaeological surveys within the campus whenever the University plans construction works. Underneath Machikaneyama Hill (Toyonaka City), on which the Graduate School of Letters is located, abounds with ancient relics and structures from the Yayoi period (B.C. 300 - A.D. 300) to the modern age. Since the Toyonaka Campus is registered with the national government as an archaeological site, an archaeological survey must be conducted prior to any construction work within the campus, in compliance with the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. Osaka University established Committee for Archaeological Heritage Management in 1985 to study and determine survey methods. Based on the Committee’s decision, actual surveys are conducted by the Office of Archaeological Heritage Management, currently comprising one full-time and two concurrent staff members. In addition to the Toyonaka Campus, the office conducted an excavation survey of the kurayashiki (business office) of the Kurume domain, built during the Edo Period (1603 - 1868) on Nakanoshima Island, Kita Ward, Osaka City.

The office continues studies based on excavation findings, discloses the study results, and promotes activities to preserve buried cultural assets.

Professor

FUKUNAGA, Shinya (Ph.D.)

Japanese Archaeology; Mortuary Practices, Political History in Kofun Period, Ancient Bronze Mirrors

Associate Professor

TAKAHASHI, Teruhiko (M.Lit.)

Japanese Archaeology; Manual Industry, Cultural Exchanges in Nara and Heian Period, Ancient Pottery and Ceramic

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