We analyzed the distribution of plant remains in the sedimentary soil of the Koshindo duck-netting pond of Hamagoten, and considered the changing process of land use and plantings in and around the pond. Many plant remains were detected which are cultivated species like rice plant and the associated weeds. Then we estimated the land use before and after the development of the pond. There would have been some paddies and fields before the development, and after the development of the pond, they would have planted some conifers around the pond especially on the east bank. These estimations are supported by the documents and drawings of these days.

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The excavation of garden remains next to the palaces of succesive emperors of the Asuka period revealed the following facts:
(1) The pond's outline shows a combination of straight and curved lines.
(2) The pond has stone shore edging and a stonepaved bottom.
(3) There was a fixture made of stone for drawing water into the pond, and a stone fountain within the pond itself.
(4) A stone-piled island is in the southern part of the pond.
The garden is thought to have been built in the late seventh century due to the potteries excavated at the bottom layer of the pond, and the possibility that it was the garden called Shiranishiki no misono, mentioned in the Nihonshoki account of the reign of Emperor Tenmu, is very high.
I think that the stone-piled island was made under the influence of cult of immortality of Chinese origin and that the pond was used as a sacred space to carry out holy festival as well as an imperial banquet place.

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[in Japanese]

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