Image
- Category
- Historical Sites Structural Sites
- Title
- Former Site of Hofukuji Temple
- Areas
- South Area 14
Many sites were discovered in Suematsu. The biggest discovery was the former site of Suematsu Temple, a large temple in ancient times. This area is located at a high elevation (35-40m above sea level) in the alluvial fan of the Tedori River. Due to the rocky, dry characteristics of the alluvial fan, Suematsu had difficulty developing rice paddies until the 7th century. For this reason, there are no significant sites from before the 7th century in this area. In and after the 7th century, however, large irrigation work made the development of rice paddies possible, and large settlements from the 8th to 12th century were found.
Traces of Suematsu Burial Mound can be seen in the precinct of Ohe Hachiman Shrine. While the main part of the mound was destroyed, it is estimated to have been about 20m long. Excavation of the surrounding Kambayashi and Tachi Burial Mounds showed that Suematsu Burial Mound may have been built between the early and mid-7th century. Because many area names around the mound include "tsuka," which means a destroyed burial mound, Suematsu must have played a central role in the area.
While no longer visible, traces of former sites of temples and settlements in and after the 13th century could be seen in the past. It is said that until the late 19th century, traces of clay walls remained. The former site of Hofukuji Temple is located in what is now Suematsu 2-chome.
The former site of an Odachi Clan residence is thought to have been located in the field west of the settlements. The head of the Odachi Clan at that time was a powerful force on the Ikko sect side in their uprising in Kaga, and even known in the Capital (Kyoto).