Abstract
Archaeological evidence of historic gardens and their related remnants (hereinafter, they are called as ‘Archaeologically Excavated Gardens’ in this paper) has hardly ever affected the cycles of nature and human activities since they had been buried. Therefore Archaeologically Excavated Gardens are the standard of historical materials concerning the design, structure, technique, etc. of gardens in the past. The examination of Archaeologically Excavated Gardens is very important in the empirical examination of lost gardens. On the basis that there has been much investigation, study, protection and utilization in Japan and Italy, this paper will examine comparative studies about the difference of the function, composition, form, etc. of gardens, as well as the state of the investigations on the historic gardens in Japan and Italy. In conclusion, from the point of view to recognize that ‘Archaeologically Excavated Garden’ is a category of historic gardens as well as archaeological heritages, it is important to examine comprehensively some concepts and methods of preservation and utilization of Archaeologically Excavated Gardens beyond a conflict between reconstruction as a historic garden and restoration as a archaeological site, through comparing some concrete cases in Japan with in Italy.
