Ancient site · Megalith
Ōyu Stone Circles
The Ōyu Stone Circles, in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, are two large rings of river stones built on a levelled plateau during the late Jōmon period. The larger, Manza circle is 46 metres across, the largest stone circle in Japan.
Each ring is made of many small stone settings, some with an upright stone like a sundial, and pits beneath may be graves. There is no sign of permanent houses on the site, so it was probably a place for ceremonies and burial. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Jōmon sites of northern Japan.
- Dates
- c. 2000–1500 BCE
- Still standing
- Yes
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Yes
- Location
- 40.27° N, 140.80° E
How we know
No writing existed; the circles are dated by the late Jōmon pottery found with them.
Nearby sites
- Sannai-Maruyama c. 3900–2300 BCE
- Hashihaka Kofun mid-3rd to early 4th century CE (debated)
- Daisenryō Kofun mid-5th century CE
- Bangudae Petroglyphs c. 5000 BCE – 9th century CE (approximate)
- Yoshinogari before 400 BCE – 3rd century CE
- Gwanggaeto Stele erected 414 CE
Related
- Jōmon culture archaeological culture
- The world in 2000 BCE: Cities of Bronze chapter