Assumption of the Existence of Ancient Remains in the Lower Layer of the Ruins of Osaka Castle Special Historic Site

Abstract

The ruins of the Osaka Castle in the Toyotomi Period (1580–1615) , burnt down in 1615, remain under the ground of the Osaka Castle Special Historic Site (reconstructed in the Tokugawa Period) . And the site of Osaka Hongan–ji (1496–1580) is presumed in lower layer of the Toyotomi’s phase. This article, by investigating pottery of the 5–7 century excavated from the south part of this area, indicates that the area of the Osaka Castle Special Historic Site located in the north end of the Uemachi Upland, the highest place in Osaka City, was developed in the ancient times and the center facilities were constructed in the times of Hoenzaka Warehouses in the 5 th century and Former Naniwa Palace Site in the 7 th century.