Sagami River Bridge ruins

The Former Sagami River Bridge ruins represent a significant archaeological discovery from the Kamakura period in Japan. Located in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, the site emerged following the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, revealing wooden pillars believed to be remnants of a medieval bridge. These pillars, made from hinoki wood, measure 60 centimeters in diameter and 3.6 meters in length and are thought to have been part of a bridge constructed by Inage Shigetada, a historical figure linked to the Minamoto clan. The Azuma Kagami chronicle records Minamoto no Yoritomo crossing this bridge in 1198. Dendrochronology confirms the bridge's construction between 1126 and 1260 CE, aligning with historical accounts. The site was declared a National Historic Site in 1926 and a Natural Monument in 2013, emphasizing its cultural and historical importance.