Over the last ten years I have seen MANY MANY different animals while walking in the woods. This Friday though, I saw a new animal; it was about 30cm long, had a longish nose, and had had thick white fur that would make a great hat!I think it was a possum. At least I think it was a possum. You probably shouldn't trust me because, in fact, this is the first possum I have ever seen. Still, if it wasn't a possum, what was it?

I wish I had gotten a picture!

I am convinced that this was an important place long ago. Anthropologists think that the first 'cities' among nomadic people were 'just' notable natural features, like giant rocks, giant trees, mountain passes, and the meeting of rivers where wandering people met to trade, share information, and worship their gods. I agree with the anthropologists that hold this view, and this rock is quite notable! Could the vine have been planted to direct people to the place?

Consider the above picture of the rock. See the indentation in the rock in the center of the picture. I imagine this is where the noble savages sacrificed animals to their gods and barbequed their dinner as well. Does anyone know anything about the 'prehistoric history' of this part of Japan?

And finally, a year later, the rock. It has many layers like the rings of a tree. I think it is a sedimentary rock; this means that it was formed under water. Dead sea life and other debris fell to the floor of the ocean and a long time and a lot of pressure turned it all into rock. I have never seen a rock like this anywhere in Japan, and I was surprised to see it here on Iwamayama in Ishiyama at an elevation of about 300 meters. It was either tossed here by a volcano or a glacier, or this area was under water a long time ago.