Kirk here with a fake image that illustrates what seems to be a historical fact.…

Kirk here with a fake image that illustrates what seems to be a historical fact. Here’s a translations of a Japanese news article from last year:

— start translation — Kumamoto City announced by the 21st that they conducted an archaeological excavation on the artificial hill in Suizenji Jōju-en (located in the Chuo Ward), a national scenic beauty and historical site. They have confirmed the locations where soil from the Edo period was used for construction and where, during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877 (Meiji 10), part of the hill was carved out to place artillery batteries by the government forces. The city will hold an on-site explanatory meeting on the 23rd.

According to the city’s Culture Promotion Division, this is the first excavation of the artificial hill. The decision to excavate was made in order to determine the best method of restoration after the top of the hill sank about 60 centimeters due to the Kumamoto earthquake.

From early August to about a month later, they dug down from several centimeters to 50 centimeters at two locations on the north and south sides of the artificial hill. From differences in the color and layering of the soil, they were able to identify sections from the Edo period, the location where the artillery battery was placed, and the layer of soil added after the Satsuma Rebellion. The current height of the artificial hill is approximately 8.5 meters, and it is believed that the artillery battery was placed at a height of about 5.8 meters. Fragments of thin friction tubes (1.5 centimeters long and 5 millimeters wide), used for firing cannons, were also unearthed.

It was previously known from old photographs taken before and after the Satsuma Rebellion that the government forces had carved out the artificial hill to set up the artillery battery.

The on-site explanatory meeting will be held from 4 pm on the 23rd and is free of charge. In case of cancellation, it will be announced on the city’s website. (By Sawako Tobimatsu) — end translation —

https://taron.hatenablog.com/entry/2018/11/03/234730

The site is in Japanese. ChatGPT 4.0 did the translation for me.

Thanks to Explore Kumamoto for the tip. :)