[1]Excavation[2]Scientific[3]Stonework[4]Documents[5]Others

Sennnoyama Mountain (ht. 537m) had ore deposits that were exposed to the surface. The ruins of silver mining and metal refining have been found near the peak in an area often called Ishigane or the Seven Valleys of the Silver Mine, comprised of several smaller valleys such as Hondani, Shimizudani and Tochihatadani. Tunnels, wells, ponds, waterways, stone walls, roads and graves can be seen even today. As a result of the excavation starting in 1993, the ruins of silver refining room (Fukiya) and a road were discovered. It was also learned that a facility for silver panning and smelting had existed there. They have been dated to a period somewhere between the first half of the 16th century and the first half of the 18th century. The Ishigane District Survey Area Airscape of the Ishigane District Survey Area (Upper center; the Ishigane Fujita District: Upper right; the Minami Mukouyama District.) Mine Shaft Ruins (Entrance) Mine shafts dug along the silver veins An excavated road with ruins of silver panning and smelting rooms on its both sides Cupellation Method Using Iron Pan Silver Mine Discovery Legend and "Geta" Sandals It was found that inside the iron pan excavated from the Warring States Period building ruins was light yellow soil that may have been ash. Underneath the iron pan was a layer of pebbles, and beside the pan rested a pair of charcoal tongs. Chemical analysis showed that the soil inside the iron pan indeed was ash, supporting the assumption that this pan was used for the cupellation method of silver refining. In the heel portion of the excavated "geta" sandals is a carving of mountain in the background and a ship in the foreground. According to the literature "Ginzan Kyuki" which tells how Jutei Kamiya first discovered Iwami-Ginzan Silver Mine from his ship in 1526 on his way from Hakata to Taisha, Kamiya spotted the glimmering Sennnoyama from the Japan Sea. It is believed that the design on this "geta" sandals indeed describes this legend.

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