A Study on the harbor facilities in Tomonoura Hiroshima during early modern times

Abstract

In Edo period, coastal service played an important role. The harbor facilities-“Gangi”, “Hato”(a breakwater), “Tadeba”(Docks), “Jyoyatou”(a lighthouse), “Funagura”(a ship house) were built up in many port towns of the Inland Sea. Now, most of these facilities were broken down and rebuilt. But at Tomonoura Hiroshima, several facilities are still existed and being used. Recently they are recognized as cultural assets by a resident's movement. So we need systematize a history and a function of them. For this purpose, this paper tries to understand over the general state of habor facilities in Tomonoura by following three steps. Firstly we collect each material of historical harbor facilities at Tomonoura, secondly make a drawing of facilities arrangement, thirdly excavate and measure existent habor facilities.This paper indicates the characteristics of historical facilities at Tomonoura from the following three view points:1) There were at least three times big constructions in the late Edo period.2) An remaining rate of “gangi” is estimated 44%.3) A size and a location of “Tadeba”(Docks) is presumed.