In the summer of 1961, an elementary school boy went fishing in the Mogamigawa River in Shirataka town, where he found an oval gold coin in the riverbed. In the following 6 months, a total of 23 Bunsei oval gold coins (coined in 1818 to 1829), 9 gold coins, and 358 silver coins were found there. At first, these treasures were possessed by the discoverers, but after the town government designated them as cultural assets, the local authorities collectively manage them. These old coins are not open to the public, but stored in the vault of the Shirataka town government.

"23 coins in the possession of the Shirataka town government"
Photo cooperated with: Shirataka town government

In August, 1992, a very modern-looking clay figure was excavated in the Nishinomae archeological site in Funagata town. The figure is so contemporary that it was first called "Venus of Jomon," and news of this excavation was wired around the world. The figure was made in the mid-Jomon Period, or 4500 years ago, and has an extremely abstract and elegant look. This 45cm high figure is one of the tallest clay figures ever excavated or reconstructed in Japan up to today.

"Venus of Jomon :
This one of the largest figure, and oldest in existence in Japan"
Photo cooperated with:
Funagata town Museum of History and Folklore