Nishinumata ruins

The Nishinumata ruins, located in Tendō, Yamagata, Japan, are an archaeological site of a late Kofun period settlement from the 6th century CE. This rural settlement spans 45,000 square meters and provides insight into pre-Mutsu Province habitation. Archaeological excavations uncovered 16 pillared buildings, including 14 residences and 2 granaries, alongside wells, rice paddies, and a dammed pond, all enclosed by a wooden palisade for protection. The site's significance lies in its depiction of rural life during the late Kofun period, emphasizing agricultural and domestic practices. Since its discovery in 1985, the site has been preserved and opened to the public in 2008 as the Tendō Nishinumata Archaeological Park, featuring reconstructed buildings and a museum.