A group of Sue ware kiln sites located mainly in Ono-cho, Chikushi County, Fukuoka Prefecture, and partly in Kasuga Town, Chikushi County. According to the old administrative division, the distribution area of the kiln sites corresponds roughly to Ushikubi Village, Mikasa County, so the name “Ushikubi Kiln Site Group” was chosen.
The scale of the kiln site group is not strictly known because a thorough distribution survey of the entire area has not yet been conducted, but more than 53 kiln sites have been confirmed so far, making it one of the representative Sue ware kiln site groups in the Chikuzen region. According to previously discovered data, the date of establishment does not date back to the middle of the 6th century, but there is a possibility that new kiln sites belonging to the early 6th century will be discovered through future research. This group of Sue ware kiln sites continued to operate after the 6th century, but reached its peak in the 8th century. The famous Dazaifu capital is located adjacent to the hills where the kiln sites are scattered, and many of the Uji wells produced at the Ushikubi kiln site group are thought to have been supplied to the Dazaifu government. The types of wares produced at the Ujikubi kiln site group include lidded cups, high cups, bowls, bowl stands, various jars and pots, etc. In the Nara period, bowls, vessels, plates, dishes, and bottles were added, while bowl stands and certain types of jars declined or disappeared. The basic combination of vessels is almost the same as in other areas, although the shapes of the vessels have a strong local flavor. The Oura Kiln No. 2 in this kiln site group also fired roof tiles along with Sue ware. The flat roof tiles excavated from this kiln site have parallel tapping and concentric circle patterns on the inner and outer surfaces, which are the same as the original tools used to mold Sue ware (tapping and applying tools). The Oura No. 2 kiln dates back to the first half of the 7th century, but no temple site corresponding to this period has yet been discovered in Kyushu, and the supplier of the tiles produced at this kiln is currently unknown.
