小牧野遺跡の環状列石
Komakino Stone Circle
１．環状列石の大きさと構造
小牧野遺跡の環状列石は、大規模な労働力の集中によって構築された直径55mにもおよぶ大型の記念物（モニュメント）です。
直径35mの外帯・29mの内帯・2.5mの中央帯の3重の輪のほか、一部4重となる弧状の列石や外帯を囲む直径4m前後の環状配石などで構成されています。
1. Size and construction of stone circle
The stone circle of the Komakino Site, with a diameter of 55 meters, is a large monument that must have required a concentration of a great amount of labor to construct.
The center ring has a diameter of 2.5 meters, surrounded by another ring of 29 meters in diameter and a third ring of 35 meters in diameter.Along with these three complete rings, part of a fourth ring has been found in the form of an arch outside the outermost ring,as well as small stone circles of about 4 meters in diameter also placed around the outermost ring.
２．環状列石と土木工事
環状列石が作られる前、その場所は緩やかな斜面でした。
縄文人ははじめ(1)のように斜面の高い方を削り取り、その土を低い方に盛土しました(2)。
その後、石を川から運び、(3)のように石が並べられました。
2. The stone circle and construction work
Before the stone circle was made, the area was on a gentle slope, so the Jomon people leveled off the higher end of the slope (1) and used the soil to fill the lower end (2).
Afterwards the stones were carried from the river, and arranged as in (3).
石は、削り取られた部分や盛土された部分の段差を利用して並べられているため、立体的な構造となっています。
また、環状列石は長い年月をかけ土地造成や配石作業が継続して行われていることもわかりました。
The stones formed a three-dimensional structure because it was built on the land of different elevations resulting from the partial leveling off and filling work. Furthermore,
it was discovered that further land-filling and stone arrangement had continued over a
long period of time.
３．石の組み方
環状列石の外帯と内帯は、楕円形の石を縦に置き、その両側に平らな石を数段積み重ね、あたかも石垣を築くように並べられています。
この縦横交互の列石は、全国的にも珍しく“小牧野式”配列（配石）とも呼ばれています。
3. Placements of stones
The outer two rings of the stone circle were made by placing oval stones vertically at intervals. In between these vertical stones, more stones were placed horizontally,
This method of arrangement is very rare, not just for Aomori, but for the whole of Japan,
and has been called the ‘Komakino-style’ of stone arrangement.
