Archaeology in Japan: The Foundation of the House of an Empress from the 700s AD

According to the website CrazyAsianHistory, there have been 126 emperors in Japan, from the first Emperor Jinmu. Although women are not allowed to be emperors today, there was a time when they could (that changed in the Meiji era). Today's blog is about an archaeological finding of Empress Koken who ruled Japan in the 700s AD. 

(Photo: Former Site of Heijokyu Imperial Palace, Nara city, Nara prefecture. Credit: Nara Prefectural Film Commission) 

ABOUT EMPRESS KOKEN- Empress Koken’s father was the 45th Emperor Shomu. Emperor Shomu had no male children, and his daughter, Koken became the 46th empress. Empress Koken’s mother, Empress Komyo was from the Fujiwara, a powerful noble family. Fujiwara family was also behind Empress Koken’s power. Source: CrazyAsianHistory

Massive ruins found in Nara likely a former imperial home

By TAKUMI OKADA/ Ashai Staff Writer

 NARA--Archaeologists have excavated one of the largest ruins of a building ever found at the former site of the Heijokyu palace in this ancient capital.

The Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties announced the findings at the government-designated special historic site on June 30. It believes the structure was the center piece of a residence for emperors and crown princes during the late eighth century.

One expert said the building was likely a residence for female Emperor Koken (718-770).

Archaeologists began examining a roughly 924-square-meter plot in the northern Toin district in March, according to the institute. Toin is located in the eastern part of the Heijokyu palace, the nerve center of politics during the Nara Period (710-784).

They unearthed ruins of a rectangular-shaped structure, which spans 27 meters in an east-west direction and 12 meters in a north-south direction. Also found were 50 pits dug in the ground to place pillars into them. The holes are lined up about 3 meters apart.

The building, supported by pillars placed in a grid-like formation, likely served as a living space, according to the institute.

The researchers concluded that the structure stood there between 749 and 770 during the Nara Period, based on the characteristics of a pattern on roof tiles found in the pits.