Discovery of Iron Grapnel Anchors in Early Modern Ryukyu and Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage in Okinawa,Japan |
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| Authors: | Rintaro Ono Chiaki Katagiri Hironobu Kan Masayuki Nagao Yumiko Nakanishi Yuji Yamamoto Fumiaki Takemura Norimitsu Sakagami |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Maritime Civilizations, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Japan;2. Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum, Japan;3. Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Global Society, Kyushu University, Japan;4. Institute of Geology and Geoinformation, AIST, Japan;5. Cultural Property Preservation Division, Osaka Prefectoral Board of Education, Japan;6. Asian Research Institute of Underwater Archaeology, Japan;7. Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Okinawa National College of Technology, Japan;8. Department of Navigation and Ocean Engineering, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Japan |
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| Abstract: | The Yarabuoki underwater site contains seven iron grapnel anchors and Early Modern Okinawan ceramic jars and is dated to the 16th–19th centuries. The site lies at a depth of 12–32 m off the western coast of Ishigaki Island in Okinawa, Japan. Based on underwater archaeological and broadband multibeam surveys, as well as historical research of the artefacts and Early Modern Ryukyuan shipping, we discuss the possible anchor and vessel types in Ryukyu and Eastern Asia in Early Modern times. We also discuss the efficacy of low‐cost ROV for assisting surveys in shallow‐water environments and the value of educational programmes for promoting the management and conservation of underwater cultural heritage. |
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| Keywords: | Yarabuoki underwater site ceramic jars ROV high‐resolution site map |
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