Tweet Date: 1/28/17
Article Date: 1/8/18
Article Publisher: Asahi Shimbun
Article Link: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201712270033.html
Location: Cape Tsuzuraozaki, Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture
Site Name: Tsuzuraozaki Kotei Site
Time Period: Jomon Period (apx 10,000 to 2300 yrs ago) to Heian Period (794-1185)
Object: Pottery Accumulation on Lake Bed
Why is this interesting/important? A team led by Kenichi Yano from Ritsumeikan University used an underwater submersible to explore the Tsuzuraozaki Kotei Site, and were able to photograph an intact Jomon period pot in the process. The pot was discovered apx 400m below the surface of Lake Biwa, in an area that people have been pulling up pottery in fishing nets since the 1920’s. Underwater archaeology is fairly underrepresented in Japan, and it was great to see some additional work in the field. I always love the incorporation of archaeology and technology, so this hit a sweet spot for me. Technology, robots, archaeology, what else could I ask for?