1,300-Year-Old Imperial Building Found in Japan’s First Capital

KASHIHARA, JAPAN—Thirteen holes for stone foundation posts have been discovered in the Toho Kanga area of Fujiwara-kyo, the capital of Japan between 694 and 710 A.D. “When the capital was relocated to Fujiwara-kyo, the east side may have been dedicated to residential quarters for imperial family members or for other important purposes. The discovery could be a crucial turning point in research on Fujiwara-kyo,” Masashi Kinoshita of Tokyo Gakugei University told The Asahi Shimbun. The building may have been a pavilion or a storehouse on stilts with a tiled roof. Another building, represented by five square-shaped holes with rounded edges, was also uncovered.