Mysterious Object In Asuka – The Place Of ‘Flying Birds’
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Asuka, which means in Ainu, "flying birds" is one of the most historically rich places in Japan.
This remarkable small village, located approximately 20 kilometers south of Nara City, in the Kansai region of Honshu, central Japan, is covered with unusually shaped megaliths, of which many are of titanic dimensions and weights.
So far, no one has been able to shed light on the past of Asuka's stone relics and monuments and their hidden history. They are shrouded in mystery relative to their date of construction and original function.
The most famous of the monuments is ship-like boulder "Masuda no iwafune", located near the top of a hill in the village, in a place Ishi-no-Ho-den".
The "boast stone" is one of most strikingly enigmatic of the Asuka megaliths. One puzzling characteristic is that in places it is rough and unfinished, seemingly entirely like a work of nature, and in other places beautifully cut into right-angled planes.."
"Masuda no Iwafune" does not resemble the style or construction of any other Buddhist monument and represents one of the greatest mysteries of Japan.
Masuda was the name of a lake thought to have been near this stone; hence the translation would literally be "Masuda ship rock".
For the first time, this gigantic boulder was mentioned in Japanese literature of the 8th century.
However, it still represents one of the greatest archaeological puzzles of Japan, because no archaeologist is able to state with certainty how old the Masuda-no-wafune really is or what its original function might have been.
In one of our earlier articles, we wrote about some strange sightings recorded in the sacred texts of The Nihongi. For example in 634 A.D. "a long star seen in the south... which the people called a besom-star", and in 637 A.D. a large "star" was floating from East to West causing a thunder-like noise.
On the 7th day of the second month of Spring, 640 A.D. people saw a "star" that entered the Moon. and another "guest star" entered the Moon on the 9th July 642 A.D.
See also:
Probably The Oldest Star Map Discovered In Stone Chamber Of The Kitora Tomb, Asuka Nara, Japan
First Peoples Of Japan: Ainu Civilization And Its Unknown Origin
Was the Masuda-no-iwafune astronomically oriented? Was it a structure constructed for observations of the sky? A number of questions still remain relative to whether or not the stone was actually used for astronomical observation.
In its upper part, the "Masuda ship rock" has two holes, which were long concealed by pine trees.
The monument is 11 meters long, 8 meters wide and 4.7 meters high and weighs approximately 1000 tons. The upper surface is flat, with a shallow trough and two square holes.
At present, the stone bears lattice-shaped indentations around its base which testify to the process used in flattening the outer surfaces.
There have been countless attempts to explain its origin and purpose, but all these attempts have failed. Researchers have already investigated the rock with ultrasound devices and measured the object with laser scanners only to find nothing.
"The actual purpose" of the great megalith remains a mystery, according to the Asuka Historical Museum
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
Ancient Burial Of A Princess Who Fell Off A Cliff Raises Many Questions
Archaeology | Apr 18, 2019
-
Unique Temple Of The Condor In Machu Picchu: 3D Spectacular Inca Stonemasonry
Civilizations | Sep 21, 2016
-
Mystery Of Gribshunden – Danish Royal Sunken Ship Sheds New Light On Psychological Warfare In The Middle Ages
Archaeology | Apr 14, 2017
-
On This Day In History: 55 Delegates Convened To Write What Would Become The U.S. Constitution – On May 14, 1787
News | May 14, 2016
-
Highly Debated Early Homo Erectus Skull From Turkana – Age And Origin Now Verified
Archaeology | Apr 20, 2021
-
Inca Llajta: Largest And Most Impressive Inca Complex In Bolivia
Civilizations | Dec 6, 2018
-
Algonquin People And The Myth Of The Medicine Woman In The Moon
Featured Stories | Feb 1, 2016
-
Unique Archaeological Finds Point To The Lost Indigenous Town Of Sarabay In Florida
Archaeology | Jun 20, 2022
-
Why Is La Ferrassie Man A Unique And Famous Neanderthal?
Featured Stories | Oct 30, 2023
-
Never-Before-Seen Ancient Statue Of The ‘Lord Of The Desert’ Revealed To The Public – But Who Was He?
Artifacts | Mar 19, 2022
-
Ancient Maya Destroyed Their Environment 2,000 Years Ago – Effects Are Still Visible Today
Civilizations | Sep 9, 2015
-
Incredible Ancient Metallurgical Wonders That Defy Explanation And Pose A Real Mystery Even Today
Civilizations | Apr 21, 2014
-
On This Day In History: The Battle of Mortimer’s Cross – On Feb 2, 1461
News | Feb 2, 2017
-
Pictograms: First Written Accounts Of Earthquakes In Pre-Hispanic Mexico
Archaeology | Aug 27, 2021
-
Our Lives Have Always Been Manipulated By Money – Part 2
Featured Stories | Jun 4, 2022
-
Deception And Hidden Truth – Ancient Struggle Of The Eagle And Serpent – Part 2
Ancient Symbols | Sep 6, 2019
-
Surprising Discovery Of Unique 3,500- Year-Old Arrowheads Made Of Shells In The Jotunheimen Mountains
Archaeology | Feb 20, 2023
-
Why Is Rome Called ‘The Eternal City’?
Ancient History Facts | Apr 4, 2018
-
Ancient Graffiti On Sacred Mountain Reveals Secrets Of North Korea
Archaeology | Dec 3, 2021
-
Rare ‘Cursed’ Tablet Predating The Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered On Mount Ebal Could Re-Write History – Scientists Say
Archaeology | Mar 25, 2022