Okinawa Gusuku contain 4th-century Roman coins predating construction. Gusuku period in Okinawa dates from 12th to 14th centuries, possibly older Cyclopean walls at least 400 years older than Japanese mainland constructions 勝連城跡 (14th century) yielded Roman coins from 4th century AD, 1,000 years earlier than expected
Okinawa's Gusuku castles from the 12th-14th centuries contain a remarkable surprise: Roman coins from the 4th century AD, predating construction by roughly 1,000 years. These Cyclopean coral limestone walls actually predate Japanese mainland masonry by at least 400 years and resemble Italian constructions more than Chinese architecture. Just six original Gusuku structures remain after the 1609 Japanese invasion and WWII bombings.
Key Facts
- Gusuku period in Okinawa dates from 12th to 14th centuries, possibly older
- Cyclopean walls at least 400 years older than Japanese mainland constructions
- 勝連城跡 (14th century) yielded Roman coins from 4th century AD, 1,000 years earlier than expected
- Before Gusuku period, Okinawans lived as shellfish collectors with no architecture for 6,000 years
- Built from local coral limestone using global polygonal masonry techniques
- Okinawan Gusuku resemble Italian constructions and differ from Chinese architecture
- Only six original Gusuku structures remain due to Japanese invasion (1609) and WWII bombings
Related site: 勝連城跡 — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Incredible: What the Japanese were building - The complete unknown story of ancient stone wonders by One-eyed giant building walls