Kanagawa Archeology Foundation
Japan's only dedicated archaeology foundation, contracted to conduct rescue excavations of buried cultural properties across Kanagawa Prefecture.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
The Kanagawa Archeology Foundation (公益財団法人かながわ考古学財団, Kanagawa Kōkogaku Zaidan) is a public-interest incorporated foundation headquartered inside the Kanagawa Prefectural Center for Buried Cultural Properties in Nakamura-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama, Japan. It was established on 21 October 1993 by Kanagawa Prefecture as the Zaidan Hōjin Kanagawa Kōkogaku Zaidan, and it describes itself as the only organization in Japan bearing the name "archaeology foundation." Its core mission, grounded in the purpose of Japan's Cultural Properties Protection Act, is to maintain and operate a system for contracted excavation of buried cultural properties (known archaeological sites) within Kanagawa Prefecture, to respond to demand for rescue excavation, and to deepen residents' understanding of buried cultural property protection while contributing to local culture. The Foundation's principal work is rescue archaeology: when large public works such as expressway construction threaten known buried cultural property sites, the Foundation is contracted to excavate them and preserve the record through published excavation reports. Alongside this, it runs public outreach — site explanation meetings, excavation results presentations, exhibitions of unearthed artifacts, public seminars, and hands-on excavation experiences — to raise public interest in local history and culture. It also operates the "Kanagawa Kōkogaku Zaidan Channel" on YouTube (opened 21 October 2021) and maintains official Facebook and Twitter accounts to share excavation sites, results, and explanations of archaeological terminology. Organizationally, the Foundation began with a General Affairs Department and, from April 1994, a Research Department with four research sections, and it has been restructured several times. In April 2011, under Japan's reform of public-interest corporation rules, it transitioned from a prefecture-established foundation to a public-interest incorporated foundation and changed its name to 公益財団法人かながわ考古学財団. As of 1 April 2024 its structure comprises two departments and four sections. Its headquarters is at 3-191-1 Nakamura-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama; it also operates the Noba Excavated Artifact Sorting Room in Kōnan-ku, Yokohama (opened June 2003, in the former Kanagawa Prefectural Noba High School building) and the Monzawabashi Excavated Artifact Sorting Room in Ebina (opened June 2022). The Foundation marked its 30th anniversary in 2024. Its symbol mark, created on 1 April 2001, expresses the initials K, A, and F and uses warm earth tones evoking archaeology; its mascots, the "hachimaki dogū" siblings Hachikun and Makichan, were created for its 20th anniversary and are modeled on a headband-wearing clay figurine from the Kawashiri-Nakamura site in Sagamihara.
History
The Kanagawa Archeology Foundation was established on 21 October 1993 as the Zaidan Hōjin Kanagawa Kōkogaku Zaidan (財団法人かながわ考古学財団), founded by Kanagawa Prefecture. Its founding purpose, grounded in the Cultural Properties Protection Act, was to organize and maintain a system for contracted excavation of buried cultural properties within the prefecture, to meet demand for such excavation, and to deepen residents' understanding of buried cultural property protection while contributing to local culture. At establishment it placed its office inside the Kanagawa Prefectural Center for Buried Cultural Properties at 3-191-1 Nakamura-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama, and set up a General Affairs Department. In April 1994 the Foundation began accepting contracts for buried cultural property excavation and related projects, and established a Research Department with Research Sections One through Four, along with the Futamatagawa Excavated Artifact Sorting Room. In April 1996 it added a General Affairs Section within the General Affairs Department, becoming a two-department, five-section organization. In April 1999, following an organizational reform of the Kanagawa Prefectural Center for Buried Cultural Properties, the Research Department was renamed the Research and Study Department, a Materials Utilization Section was established within it, and the Foundation became a two-department, six-section body; it also took on contracted management and public outreach for the Center from the prefecture. In 2003 the Futamatagawa Excavated Artifact Sorting Room was closed in May and the Noba Excavated Artifact Sorting Room was opened in June. In March 2006, with the abolition of the Kanagawa Prefectural Center for Buried Cultural Properties ordinance (its abolition as a "public facility"), the Foundation's contracted management and operation of the Center ended; the Materials Utilization Section and Research Sections Three and Four were abolished, reducing the organization to two departments and three sections. In April 2008 a Planning and Coordination Section was newly established in the Research and Study Department, making the organization two departments and four sections. In April 2011, under Japan's reform of the public-interest corporation system, the Foundation transitioned to a public-interest incorporated foundation and changed its name to 公益財団法人かながわ考古学財団 (Kanagawa Archeology Foundation). In April 2021 it newly established an Excavated Artifact Sorting Section in the Research and Study Department and renamed the Research Section as the Excavation Section, keeping a two-department, four-section structure. On 21 October 2021 it opened its official YouTube channel, "Kanagawa Kōkogaku Zaidan Channel," publishing introductions to excavation sites in the prefecture, reports on detected features and artifacts, and explanatory videos on buried cultural properties, excavation, and archaeology; it also communicates via official Facebook and Twitter accounts. In June 2022 the Monzawabashi Excavated Artifact Sorting Room was opened. As of 1 April 2024 the organization chart shows a two-department, four-section structure, and the Foundation marked its 30th anniversary in 2024. Its symbol mark dates from 1 April 2001, and its mascot characters, the dogū siblings Hachikun and Makichan, were created for its 20th anniversary.
Established as Zaidan Hōjin Kanagawa Kōkogaku Zaidan by Kanagawa Prefecture; office placed inside the Kanagawa Prefectural Center for Buried Cultural Properties; General Affairs Department set up.
Began accepting contracts for buried cultural property excavation; established Research Department with Research Sections One to Four; opened Futamatagawa Excavated Artifact Sorting Room.
Added General Affairs Section within the General Affairs Department, becoming a two-department, five-section organization.
Research Department renamed Research and Study Department; Materials Utilization Section established; became two departments and six sections; took on contracted management and public outreach for the prefectural center.
Symbol mark created, expressing the initials K, A, and F in warm earth tones.
Futamatagawa Excavated Artifact Sorting Room closed.
Noba Excavated Artifact Sorting Room opened.
With abolition of the prefectural center ordinance, contracted management of the center ended; Materials Utilization Section and Research Sections Three and Four abolished, reducing to two departments and three sections.
Planning and Coordination Section newly established in the Research and Study Department; organization became two departments and four sections.
Transitioned to a public-interest incorporated foundation and renamed 公益財団法人かながわ考古学財団.
Products and positioning
Japan's only organization named an "archaeology foundation," serving as Kanagawa Prefecture's contracted body for rescue excavation and public outreach on buried cultural properties.
Contracted rescue excavation of buried cultural properties
Excavation of known buried cultural property sites threatened by large public works such as expressway construction, preserving the record through published reports.
Excavation reports (発掘調査報告書)
Published reports documenting the results of the Foundation's contracted excavations.
Annual excavation results presentation and artifact exhibition
Held once a year to communicate new findings from the Foundation's excavations and display unearthed artifacts.
Public seminars
Seminars introducing archaeology and cultural properties of Kanagawa Prefecture on various themes, including ongoing excavations.
Hands-on excavation experience
Public participatory events such as the "Waku Waku! Taiken Hakkutsu" experience.
YouTube channel "Kanagawa Kōkogaku Zaidan Channel"
Official channel opened 21 October 2021, publishing excavation site introductions, results reports, and terminology explanations.
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