Five-Meter Accuracy 3D Maps and Generative AI Illuminate Ancient Japan 1,800 Years Ago: Yamatai Queendom and First Emperor Jimmu

This study employed the 5-meter Accuracy Digital Elevation Model (DEM) developed by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan to analyze the spatial distribution of Yayoi-period archaeological sites using a Geographic Information System (GIS)–based approach. Unlike conventional prefecture-level classifications, this method enables higher spatial precision and more intuitive visual interpretation. The analysis provides new insights into the long-standing debate over the location of Yamatai (Yamataikoku) approximately 1,800 years ago and significantly increases the likelihood that it was located in northern Kyushu. The results also reveal clear regional specialization within northern Kyushu. The areas around present-day Asakura City and Ogori City appear to have functioned primarily as military centers, whereas the Yoshinogari site—one of the largest Yayoi settlements in Japan—shows strong specialization in agriculture, especially large-scale wet-rice cultivation. The area corresponding to present-day Fukuoka City likely served as a major urban center combining both military and agricultural functions. In addition, the study suggests that “Jimmu’s Eastern Expedition” may preserve certain historical elements rather than being entirely mythical. By introducing GIS-based methods and the supplemental use of generative AI, this study represents both a pilot project and an attempt to advance the digital transformation (DX) of ancient historical studies in Japan.