Overview
Historical sites (遺跡, iseki) are traces of human activity in ancient times. It is not necessary for buildings to remain; even if objects are excavated, they are categorized as historical sites. Buildings at historical sites are called remains, and excavated objects are called relics. They are the subject of archaeology where the sites become archeological sites (考古遺跡). Basically, historical sites have an image of being ancient, but some are from relatively recent times, such as the Middle Ages and the Edo period. Even modern remains, such as those from World War II, are sometimes referred to as historical sites.