Abstract
The Y-shaped lumbers of the chestnut trees were excavated at the Sakuramachi-Site in Oyabe City, Toyama, Japan in 1997. It is thought that the people of the Jomon period about 4000 years ago used the Y-shaped lumbers to transport heavy items such as giant trees. The position of Y-shaped lumbers in the history of sledges is discussed in this paper. The Y-shaped lumbers of the Sakuramachi-Site were compared with the sledge relief of murals in Ancient Egypt, sledges excavated in Kitoragawa-Site of the Yayoi period in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, and Shura excavated in Mitsuzuka Tumulus in Fujiidera City, Osaka Prefecture, fifth century Japan. It was confirmed that the Y-shaped lumbers of the Sakuramachi-Site is the oldest Shura in the world for the transportation of giant trees or stones under the assumption that the Y-shaped lumbers at the Sakuramachi-Site are Shura.
