Location Ishikawa Archaeological Foundation
Nanao Castle Site Artifact: Crucible for Melting Gold
- Display status
- No permanent display
- Period
- Sengoku Period (16th century)
- Form/Type
- Archaeological material
- Location
- Furuyashiki-machi etc. (Nanao City)
Nanao Castle Site is one of the largest Sengoku Period castle ruins in Japan (approximately 300 hectares). It was built by the Hatakeyama clan, the Lord of Noto Province. There were many mansions and townscapes from the top of the mountain to the base of the castle, and the area prospered greatly.
The castle fell in 1577 due to an attack by UESUGI Kenshin, and then in 1581, MAEDA Toshiie, who was given the province of Noto by Oda Nobunaga, entered the castle.
A crucible (diameter 4 to 6 cm) with fine gold particles on its inside surface was found during an excavation survey related to the Noetsu Expressway. Crucibles such as these are believed to have been used to melt gold in a high-temperature furnace, with approximately 1.5-3 monme of gold in each (1 monme was determined to be 3.75 g in 1891). It is thought that there was a goldsmith workshop in the area that carried out the entire process.
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Opened in 1998 as an open facility for the excavation and organization of excavated artifacts and the publication of reports on buried cultural properties (archaeological sites) that convey the history and culture of Ishikawa prefecture, as well as to hold exhibitions and lectures that make use of the results. The exhibition rooms comprise sections organized by theme and era, where you can see and touch precious earthenware and stone tools discovered from archaeological sites throughout the prefecture. In 2001, they also opened the Ancient Experience Area, where you can enjoy learning about the lives and techniques of ancient people. Both adults and children can learn about local history in an accessible and easy manner, while deepening their interest and understanding of cultural properties.
18-1 Nakatomachi, Kanazawa, 920-1336 Google Maps
TEL 076-229-4477 E-mail daihyou@ishikawa-maibun.or.jp
