Medieval castles in Japan

Shinoridate

The site of Shinoridate (志苔館跡, Shinoridate ato) in Hakodate, is that once occupied by the Shinori Fort or Fortified Residence. This was the easternmost of the so-called 'Twelve Garrisons of Southern Hokkaido', built on the Oshima Peninsula by the Wajin from the fourteenth century. The site was designated a National Historic Site in 1934. The earthworks rise to a height of 4 to 4.5 metres on the no ...
Founded: 14th century | Location: Hakodate, Japan

Katsuyama Date

Katsuyama Date (勝山館, Katsuyama-Date) is the remains of a castle or fortified residence in Hiyama, Hokkaido, Japan. It is believed the castle was built by Takeda Nobuhiro in the 15th century. The castle is now only ruins, just some remnants of moats and earthen walls. Its ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site, since 1977. Guidance facility of the castle is on site.
Founded: 15th century | Location: Hiyama, Japan

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Monte d'Accoddi

Monte d"Accoddi is a Neolithic archaeological site in northern Sardinia, located in the territory of Sassari. The site consists of a massive raised stone platform thought to have been an altar. It was constructed by the Ozieri culture or earlier, with the oldest parts dated to around 4,000–3,650 BC.

The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family. No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found, leading to the presumption it was an altar, a temple or a step pyramid. It may have also served an observational function, as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass.

The initial Ozieri structure was abandoned or destroyed around 3000 BC, with traces of fire found in the archeological evidence. Around 2800 BC the remains of the original structure were completely covered with a layered mixture of earth and stone, and large blocks of limestone were then applied to establish a second platform, truncated by a step pyramid (36 m × 29 m, about 10 m in height), accessible by means of a second ramp, 42 m long, built over the older one. This second temple resembles contemporary Mesopotamian ziggurats, and is attributed to the Abealzu-Filigosa culture.

Archeological excavations from the chalcolithic Abealzu-Filigosa layers indicate the Monte d"Accoddi was used for animal sacrifice, with the remains of sheep, cattle, and swine recovered in near equal proportions. It is among the earliest known sacrificial sites in Western Europe.

The site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC, at the onset of the Nuragic age.

The monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s. It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway, near the hamlet of Ottava. It is 14,9 km from Sassari and 45 km from Alghero. There is no public transportation to the site. The opening times vary throughout the year.