Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment
大湯環状列石 · Oyu Kanjo Resseki
Late Jomon (2000–1500 BCE)·Late Jomon Oyu·🇯🇵 Tohoku, Akita Prefecture, Kazuno, Oyu, Towada district, Japan
About
About Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment
Kazuno circles excavated 1931 and 1946, Late Jomon double circles aligned to summer solstice sunset.
Why it mattersKey Late Jomon Oyu megalithic with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Function of enclosure
Theories
- 01Seasonal gathering
- 02Defensive stronghold
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2000 BCE Manza; 1500 BCE Nonakado
- Period
- Late Jomon (2000–1500 BCE)
- Culture
- Late Jomon Oyu
- Purpose
- Twin Jomon stone circles (Manza 46 m, Nonakado 42 m) with sundial and solar alignment — ritual calendric
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1941
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 2000 BCE Manza; 1500 BCE Nonakado
Initial construction / first occupation at Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment
1990 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment
On the ground
Structures & features
40.2720° N · 140.8040° E · 140 m · 3 mapped features
Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment — Principal Standing Stone
standing stonestanding stone at Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment — primary structure
40.2729° N · 140.8059° EOyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment — Northern Chamber
chamberchamber at Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment — outlier feature
40.2721° N · 140.8060° EOyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment — Southern Cairn
cairncairn at Oyu Stone Circles — Late Jomon Solar Alignment — outlier feature
40.2739° N · 140.8029° E