The Okinawa Prefectural Buried Cultural Properties Investigation Center has conducted and excavation at the site of Nakagusuku Palace on the grounds of Nakagusuku Castle since 2015. This year, the excavation unearthed stonework, a part of the outer wall of the Nakagusuku Palace, for the first time. The above ground part of the stonework was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa, but the basement still exists 70 years after the war.

Tsugukazu Toma, the chairman of the Okinawa Archaeological Society, says, “Based on the stonework, we can now study the technique of building stone structures that the ancient Ryukyu excelled in. The site is a very precious place.”

According to the Okinawa Prefectural Buried Cultural Properties Investigation Center, the stonework found from this year’s excavation is buried underground up to three meters deep. Its width differs at different places, and it’s 12 to 13 meters long.

The wall is located at the garden part of the palace, and it is assumed that the stonework used to be a part of the outer wall. The investigation also discovered remains of the inner wall.

Remains of a stone pavement, stairs, and pond have been discovered in good shape at the site so far. Including the outer wall that was found this time, archaeologists surmise that the Nakagusuku Palace covered an area of about 10,000 square meters.

• 
• NO DATA