Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Archaeology

The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Archaeology is a prefectural institution located in Harima, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Established in 2007, the museum is situated adjacent to the Onaka archaeological site. It serves as the primary institution for the exhibition, curation, and research of archaeological finds discovered across Hyogo Prefecture. The museum holds a significant collection that includes two nationally designated Important Cultural Properties and numerous Prefectural Tangible Cultural Properties, making it a central hub for the study and preservation of the region's archaeological heritage.

The museum officially opened its doors to the public on October 13, 2007. Its establishment was concurrent with the opening of the Harima Onaka Ancient Village, an adjacent outdoor facility. From its inception, the institution's primary mission has been the execution of archaeological excavations, as well as the evaluation, curation, and research of recovered cultural properties. It also actively maintains an information exchange with other museums and research institutions domestically and internationally.

The museum's holdings encompass archaeological finds from across Hyogo Prefecture, ranging widely across chronological periods. The collection includes 29 groups of artifacts designated as Prefectural Tangible Cultural Properties, sourced from dozens of sites such as Ichi-no-go in Himeji, Ichibe and Nanokaichi in Tamba, Tsukuda in Awaji, and various locations in Kobe, Sanda, Sasayama, and Toyooka. These assemblages feature diverse materials, including Yayoi-period grave goods, iron swords, stone coffins, and sutra mounds. Beyond physical artifacts, the museum maintains a comprehensive database of 25,000 archaeological sites within the prefecture, available for download, alongside an online database of over 100,000 records related to its archaeological materials. The museum also provides basic information on significant archaeological finds in Korea and China, and maintains a bibliography of publications by Hyogo archaeologists.

Among the most significant items in the museum's care are two assemblages designated as Important Cultural Properties. These consist of the artifacts excavated from the Ikeda Kofun in Asago and the Miidani No. 2 Tumulus in Yabu. Another prominent display is the stone sarcophagus and bones of the Akashi primitive man. The museum also features a full-scale replica of an early ship. Additionally, its designated Prefectural Tangible Cultural Properties include highly specific assemblages such as 33 casting molds for small dotaku bells with accessories from the Hirakata site in Sanda, 4 iron swords and axes from the Arihana site in Sanda, and 462 artifacts from the Kamiitai sutra mound in Sasayama.

The museum complex spans a total area of 8,367 square meters. It is strategically positioned next to the Onaka archaeological site in Harima. An integral component of the museum's site is the Harima Onaka Ancient Village, an outdoor annex. This adjunct facility features reconstructions of historical dwellings, including full-scale replicas of Yayoi-period houses, allowing visitors to experience the built environment of ancient Japan alongside the museum's interior exhibitions.

The museum is located in Harima within the Sanyodo region of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It operates as a prefectural institution dedicated to public education and ongoing archaeological research. In addition to its physical exhibitions, the museum offers extensive digital access through its official website, where visitors and researchers can access its site databases and artifact records. The institution also provides information on 20 other archaeological museums, collections, and exhibitions located throughout Hyogo Prefecture.