A wooden mask was uncovered at the Makimuku Iseki (纒向遺跡) in Sakurai city (桜井市), Nara prefecture, dating to the Terminal Yayoi period or Early Kofun period (early 3rd century). Predating the wooden mask found at the Eibara Iseki (宅原遺跡; mask dated to early 7th century) in Kobe city by approximately 400 years, it has staked its claim as the oldest domestic wooden mask.
Perhaps nothing more than a co-opted hoe (kuwa 鍬), the mask is believed to have been used to pray for an abundant harvest. A piece of a cinnabar-smeared spear and a sickle (kama 鎌) handle were recovered together with the mask, offering a glimpse into late Yayoi/early Kofun agricultural ritual.
The mask is made of evergreen oak (akagashi) and measures 26 centimeters long and 21.5 centimeters wide. There are no distinct markings suggesting it experienced actual use as a hoe, however.
The mouth of the mask was made from the hole normally reserved for the handle of the hoe, and red pigment once smeared around the carved eyebrows can be lightly detected. The nose holes were carved by the mask’s creator.
The mask was most likely not for wearing on one’s face: The reverse side of the mask is almost completely flat and there are no holes to pass a string through.
Having said that, perhaps it was simply the idle carving of a late Yayoi/early Kofun man with nothing better to do. For now, I’d like to thin it was used for ritual, however.
国内最古の木製仮面が出土 奈良・纒向遺跡 [2007/09/28]
邪馬台国の有力候補地として知られる奈良県桜井市の纒向（まきむく）遺跡で、弥生時代末期−古墳時代初期（３世紀 前半）とみられる木製仮面が出土し、市教育委員会が２６日、発表した。神戸市の宅原（えいばら）遺跡で見つかった仮面（７世紀初め）を約４００年さかのぼ り、国内最古。
鍬を転用、豊作祈願の際に「神の顔」として使ったとみられる。鎌の柄や朱塗りの盾の破片も一緒に発掘され、当時の農耕祭祀の実態を知る第１級の史料となりそうだ。
仮面はアカガシ製で、長さ２６センチ、幅２１・５センチ。鍬として使った痕跡はほとんどなく、ほぼ完全な形。柄を差し込むための穴を口に見立て、鼻の穴も開け、線刻したまゆ毛の周辺に赤い顔料がわずかに残っていた。
裏面はほぼ平らで、かぶるためにひもを通す穴はなかった。桜井市教委は「祭りの際は手に持って顔を覆ったのだろう」としている。
【写真説明】
奈良県桜井市の纒向遺跡から出土した、３世紀前半とみられる国内最古の木製仮面＝２６日、桜井市立埋蔵文化財センター
Japanese Archaeology 