Komakino Stone Circle 史跡　小牧野遺跡

Official explanation

Thousands of stones are arranged in concentric circles on a purposefully leveled plateau at the Komakino Stone Circle site in Aomori. Three complete rings and a partial fourth ring form a stone circle 55 meters in diameter. The stone circle dates from around 2000 BCE and is one of several large prehistoric monuments in northern Japan. Archaeological surveys have revealed burial pits, the sites of pit dwellings, and deposits of ritual items.

The stone circle can be viewed close up from multiple points. There is a path leading into the center for close inspection of the stones and their arrangement, and a mound to the south for viewing it from above. Close to the Komakino Stone Circle Conservation Center, at the entrance to the archaeological site, there is a lookout with views of Mutsu Bay, the Aomori Plain, and the western foothills of Mt. Hakkoda.

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Komakino Site Preservation Museum

Information about the Komakino Stone Circle is available at the Komakino Stone Circle Preservation Museum, 1.5 kilometers from the archaeological site. Exhibits give an overview of life in the Jomon period and introduce some of the artifacts unearthed at the Komakino Site. Exhibits provide information in English and include hands-on elements for younger visitors. Entrance is free.

Related archaeological sites

Other large prehistoric monuments in northern Japan include the stone circles of Omori Katsuyama (Aomori), Isedotai (Akita), Oyu (Akita), and Washinoki (Hokkaido).

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.