The Restart of Futenma Air Station Excavations!

Nice to meet you! My name is M, and I am a new voice for the Cultural Affairs Division blog of Ginowan City.

From here on, I will be sharing updates and insights regarding the historical sites and cultural assets found within Futenma Air Station and our ongoing archaeological investigations. We hope you enjoy our discoveries!😊

Located in the heart of Ginowan City, the Futenma Air Station holds some of our city’s most precious historical artifacts.  

Between FY2001 and FY2013, the city conducted archaeological surveys across the land, focusing on areas outside the active flight runways.

Archaeological surveys are divided into three categories: Field Observation, Test Excavation, and Evaluative Trenching. Let’s break down these technical terms!🤐

This involves walking across the ground to identify soil discoloration, and artifact fragments (pottery, tools, etc.) that are lying on the surface. 

An example of findings revealed from this survey involves the “Ginowan-Kamiyama Shiriga-ra Ancient Tombs” in FY2004. Believed to date from the Early Modern to Modern eras, a staggering 122 tombs were discovered!

Additionally, in the FY2013 survey of the "Akamichi-Shikiro Ancient Tombs," we confirmed a total of 28 tombs, along with Shirube-dote-ishi, remnants of Yusen (springs), and "stone cluster features" (areas where many stones were intentionally gathered).

📌Quick note: "Ancient Tombs" refers to historical burial sites or old cemeteries. 

The term "Shirube-dote-ishi" might also be unfamiliar, but that will be introduced in future posts! 🫡

This involves digging strategically into the ground to determine whether an archaeological site exists in a specific spot. Ginowan City has conducted over 822 surveys within the Futenma Air Station up until FY2010!

This is a detailed investigation to determine how far each site extends (range), and what its characteristics are (nature). We have been conducting these alongside test excavations since FY2002.

This type of survey is likely the most recognizable form of 'excavation' to the public👆.

As a result of these surveys, a total of 103 archaeological sites have been confirmed within Futenma Air Station.

Many of these sites offer a glimpse into the daily lives of those who came before us, such as the discoveries of Gama (natural caves), Kaa (springs), and Ubuga (sacred springs). These sites are undeniably some of the city’s most precious historical assets.

Following the base land return of the West Futenma Housing Area (formerly Camp Zukeran) in FY2015, Ginowan City prioritized land use planning, which temporarily paused archaeological surveys within the Futenma Air Station.

However, as of FY2024, the surveys have officially resumed!

We hope these updates spark an interest in the fascinating history that is resting right beneath our feet.

Stay tuned for the next update!