Fukuoka City will begin its first academic excavation of the tenshudai (main keep foundation) at the Fukuoka Castle ruins in June. The castle, built in the early Edo period by Kuroda Nagamasa, has long been subject to debate regarding the existence of a tenshukaku (main keep), as no architectural plans or illustrations remain. Following approval from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in February, the excavation will cover the 25m by 22m summit area of the foundation over approximately six months. Ground-penetrating radar and boring surveys will also be conducted to assess whether the foundation could have supported a large structure and to search for any related artifacts. Public access to the site will be restricted during the investigation. The study comes amid renewed discussion, including calls from local business leaders to reconstruct the main keep, spurred by the recent discovery of new historical materials suggesting its existence. Source: NHK
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