Gusuku

Gusuku (ぐすく, 城?, Okinawan: gushiku) often refers to Okinawan castles or fortresses that feature stone walls. However, the origin and essence of gusuku remain controversial. In the archaeology of Okinawa Prefecture, the Gusuku period refers to an archaeological epoch of the Okinawa Islands that follows the shell-mound period and precedes the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Many gusuku and related cultural remains in Okinawa Island have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites under the title Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.