History Research Institute has released 3D data of a brick excavated from the Ashiya Temple Ruins.

On April 23, History Research Institute Otemae University, in collaboration with the Ashiya City International Cultural Promotion Division, conducted precise three-dimensional measurements of bricks excavated from the Ashiya Temple Ruins using state-of-the-art equipment, and also released the three-dimensional data and held an explanatory meeting.

1. About the abandoned temple in Ashiya City
This ancient temple, located in Nishiyama-cho, Ashiya City, was founded in the 7th century (Hakuhō period). Archaeological excavations conducted to date have yielded a large number of roof tiles, and parts of the temple buildings have also been found. It is believed that the temple complex included a main hall, pagoda, lecture hall, and other structures at the time. It was the only ancient temple in the ancient Ubara District of Settsu Province (the area from western Nishinomiya City to the vicinity of central Kobe City) and was representative of the region.

2. About bricks
A sen is a type of brick made by firing clay, used as a decorative material for the foundations, floors, and bases of buildings. While they are generally rectangular and tile-like in shape, the sen found at the Ashiya Temple ruins are large, weighing approximately 36 kg, and come in multiple shapes. In the large temples of the central region (Nara and Osaka), the outer surface of the base that forms the foundation of the temple building is decorated with cut stone (cut stone base). The sen excavated from the Ashiya Temple ruins resemble these cut stone materials in shape and are thought to have been made by imitating them with clay. Such large and complexly shaped sen are unique products as no other examples have been excavated.

3. Background of this investigation
The excavation of Site 62 of the Ashiya Abandoned Temple Site, where the bricks were unearthed, was conducted in 1999 as part of the main archaeological excavation project following the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The foundation of the temple building, roof tiles, and bricks were discovered. Ashiya City has been working on publishing reports on the reconstruction surveys since the earthquake, and now, 26 years after the excavation, the report on Site 62 of the Ashiya Abandoned Temple Site [Artifacts] has finally been published in 2025. With the publication of this report, all reports on the reconstruction surveys have now been published.

4. About three-dimensional measurement technology
Using state-of-the-art equipment owned by History Research Institute Otemae University we performed laser three-dimensional measurements and SfM photogrammetry (Structure from Motion) on bricks excavated from the Ashiya Temple Ruins.
At the briefing session, Associate Professor Atsushi Okamoto demonstrated the laser measurement of an actual brick using the device, and all participants were surprised to see that even the smallest characters and symbols engraved on the brick were accurately measured. Furthermore, the precise three-dimensional measurement made it possible to consider the reconstruction of large and heavy materials that would be difficult to assemble and experiment with using actual objects. In the future, by making the three-dimensional data publicly available, it is expected that further research and investigation will be deepened.

(Source: School Public Relations)