The area from the urban district of Kameoka City to Shino-cho is believed to have been a lake or marsh until the fourth century; however, the Kuwada-jinja Shrine and the Miyake (Imperial-controlled territory) were built and people began to settle in the area, once the Hata clan reclaimed the land through the improvement of the Oi-gawa (Hozu-gawa) River.
現在の亀岡市街地から篠町にかかる地域は4世紀ころまでは湖沼地だったらしいが、秦氏の大堰川（保津川）治水工事などにより利用可能な土地となると、桑田神社や屯倉が建立されたりして人の移住が見られた。