Archaeologists excavating the residence of the Ashikaga shogunate family in Japan have unearthed a collection of eight huge garden stones.
The shogunate was Japan's hereditary military dictatorship. The shogun was directly subordinate to the emperor. He led the armed forces, which ensured complete control over the people of the country. It is believed that 8 huge stones weighing up to 9.8 tons and a length of 2.7 meters demonstrated the tremendous power and social influence that the shogunate possessed.
The Kyoto Institute for Archaeological Research announced that 7 of the 8 huge stones were found in the vicinity of the pond in the former residence of the Ashikaga shogunate, also known as the Muromachi shogunate. A group of 8 stones was located relatively close to each other. Archaeologists say the stones showed the great power that the shogun and his family possessed.
Archaeologists believe the stones were erected during the reign of the 8th Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa. They say the discovery of the huge stones demonstrates that Ashikaga Yoshimasa, as a ruler, has succeeded in developing culture and engineering technology.
The period of feud in Japan lasted a full century between 1467 and 1567 until the creation of the Tokugawa shogunate. This led to many innovations in the art of Japanese warfare, such as the use of cavalry. The traditional use of the chariot in warfare is becoming less popular.
The arrival of the infantry led to a much more brutal war. Heavy iron weapons and armor were replaced with bronze. And from this period, huge armies of infantry and cavalry demanded new training programs and supply systems. New controls were needed to guide such a large force.
The deadly crossbow was the most widely used long-range weapon of this period. It was produced in large quantities. The training of the crossbowmen was relatively straightforward. The infantrymen used various types of weapons, including a sword ranging in size from 2, 7 m. Thus, 8 stones testify to a new social and military dictatorship that led to the death of hundreds of thousands of people.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, excavations are currently on hold. The archaeological team regrets that there will be no press briefing at the site. 8 megaliths will be buried shortly.
