TOKYO - A UNESCO advisory body has recommended adding a group of ancient sites in Nara Prefecture that show the formation of Japan's centralized state to the World Cultural Heritage list, the cultural affairs agency said Saturday.
A formal decision on the "Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties" is expected to be made at a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Committee to be held in South Korea from July 19 to 29.
If registered, Japan would have 27 World Heritage sites -- 22 cultural and five natural properties.
The Asuka-Fujiwara cluster consists of 19 archaeological sites dating from the late sixth century to the early eighth century.
Among the major sites are palace ruins related to early state-building, the remains of Japan's first full-fledged capital, Buddhist temple ruins and ancient burial mounds, including one known for vividly colored murals.
The sites show the process through which Japan's centralized political system emerged and took shape, against a backdrop of close exchanges with China and the Korean Peninsula.
