A study of activities of iron manufacture engineers and ironware craftsmen and iron manufacturing technology in the Middle Age

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00882
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Hijiyama University
• Principal Investigator: Amma Takumi 比治山大学, 現代文化学部, 教授 (40263644)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 中世鉄生産 / 製鉄職能集団 / 製鉄遺跡

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I examined the activity actual situation of the iron manufacture craftsman (in a group) and a technique of the iron production and its historic background, in the middle Ages in northern Aki. Because of the connection with the Kikkawa Motoharu site located in the neighborhood, the generation of iron manufacture remains expected it with the from the end of 15th century to 16th century, but it became clear to date back to 14th century as a result of measurement in the radiocarbon dating. From this, it was assumed that the reason why Kikkawa possessed this area in Shijihara-so belonged to Itsukushima Shrine at an early stage was that they wanted to held the iron production in this area. In addition, the detected iron manufacture remains of an ancient structure had an example similar to the southeastern part of Iwami, and it was an important example to clarify the trend of the iron manufacture craftsman.

Free Research Field

考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

製鉄遺跡の発掘調査では新たな調査例を加えることとなり、安芸北部地域ならびに中国地方西部における鉄生産の歴史や技術の解明につながる成果を得ることができた。遺跡の年代が14世紀頃と判定されたことで、調査を実施した遺跡が所在する地域が13世紀中頃に厳島神社へ納められていた「三角野村の鉄」の生産地に関連する可能性が浮上し、荘園公領制下における鉄生産の様相を知る上で重要な手懸りを得ることができた。また検出された遺構と類似したものが石見地方南東部でも確認できたことで、両地域をまたぐ形で活動する製鉄職人（集団）の存在が想定され、中世における鉄生産の操業形態の一端を推定できるようになった。