A03_P09

Radiocarbon dating and Sr isotope analysis of cremated bones excavated from the Ishibotokedani site in Binmanji Temple, Shiga prefecture, Japan

Sawada R¹, Minami M¹, Wakaki S²

¹Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan, ²KOCHI JAMSTEC, Nangoku, Japan

Numerous cremated bones have been excavated from the Ishibotokedani archaeological site located adjacent to Binmanji Temple, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is believed that people related to Binmanji, such as the priests of Binmanji and the surrounding residents, were buried here. Since Binmanji was burned down in the 16th century, few documents remain. Thus, in this study, ¹⁴C dating, Sr isotope analysis, and trace element analysis of approximately 30 cremated remains excavated from survey areas A, D, F, and G were conducted to investigate the age and residence of the buried people.

Radiocarbon dating of the cremated bones from the Ishibotokedani site indicate that the cremated bones from area A date from the 12th to 14th century, those from area D belong to the 13th century, those from area F date from the 12th and 13th centuries, and those from area G date back mainly to the 14th century. This is consistent with the period of activity of Binmanji (12th–16th centuries), as established by ancient documents.

The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratios of the cremated bones ranged from 0.70938 to 0.71079. Compared to the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic ratios of the geochemical samples of the surrounding areas, the cremated bones showed 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios similar to soil of the Ishibotokedani (0.70942−0.71040) and the adjacent Seri River water (0.70926−0.71002). This indicates that the people buried in the Ishibotokedani site mainly ate crops grown in the vicinity of Binmanji or the Seri River.