Shirotoritate Iseki(Nominated site for world heritage)

This site is at the top of hill that juts out to form a peninsular in the Kitakami River. It is said this site was the residence of Shirotori Hachiro Yukitou（Noritou） the son of Abe Yoritoki. （the Abe were a powerful clan in this region at the 11th century.）the remains at this site are of a fortification dating from the 15th century. Excavation of the site started in 2003. As a result of the excavation, it was discovered that the site was both settled and fortified. （From the 10th to the 16th century settlement was intermittent.） At this point the mountains approach the Kitakami River closely on either side. Shirotoritate is located at the northernmost border of Hiraizumi. As well as having a military purpose, this site was an important point for commerce and water-borne traffic on the Kitakami River. This is why this site developed as a Yogai （an important place） before prosperity of Oshu Fujiwara clan era in the 12th century in Hiraizumi.

It is believed that in the 11th century the Abe and Kiyohara clans had their main bases in the area between Koromogawa and Shirotori. The Shirotoritate site is very important for understanding the historical reason for the emergence of the Oshu Fujiwara clan in Hiraizumi.