Traces of two large buildings dating from the middle of the second century found at Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, may have been part of an area used for sacred rites, according to local education officials.

The remains were unearthed at the Ise site in what is considered one of the key subordinate regions within the ancient Yamatai Kingdom, Moriyama city education board officials said Thursday.

Along with six similar buildings discovered previously, the two new structures form a circle about 100 meters in diameter.

One of the two buildings has a terrace that is believed to have been used as a shrine.