ARCHAEOLOGIA JAPONICA

Jomon Period
Kushihara Koichi1
Many theses were published on ﬁscal 2012 artifact study, many of which were pottery.
A symposium “Jomon Sousouki Shinpojiumu 2012: Kigenron wo Koete (Incipient Jomon
Symposium 2012: Beyond Theory of the Origin)” was held on Incipient Jomon, andChiba Daigaku Bungakubu Kokogaku Kenkyushitsu 30 Shunen Kinen Kokogaku Ronko
I (Commemorative Issue of the 30th Anniversary Archaeological Research at Chiba
University: Archaeological Achievements I) contained theses mainly on Early Jomon
pottery. Other than these, outstanding were studies on Early Jomon pottery decorated
with dowel impressed patterns (Oshigata-mon), Middle Jomon Otamadai style pottery
and Kasori E style pottery. Also on Late Jomon, a Jomon seminar “Jomon Koki Doki
Kenkyu no Genjo to Kadai (Present state and Problems of Late Jomon Pottery Study)”
and a symposium in Tsunan Town, Niigata Prefecture, “Sanjuuinabashiki Doki Bunka
no Sekai (World of the Sanjuinaba Style Pottery Culture)” were held. In the ﬁeld ofstone tool study, there is a movement to reevaluate stone tools with a larger viewpointof “Jomon stone tools” (Archaeology Quarterly 119). As for clay ﬁgurines (dogu), there
was publication of ABE Yoshiro ed. Dogu to Jomon Shakai (Clay Figurine and Jomon
Society), and the 9th convention of Dogu Kenkyukai was held. Jomon Jidai no Ishigami:
Ogata Sekibo ni Miru Saigi Koi (Stone God of the Jomon Period: Rituals Seen in Large
Stone Rods) was published on stone rods. KURISHIMA Yoshiaki ed. Ishinzai kara
Mita Jomon Shakai no Kosei to Koeki: Kenkyuseika Houkokusho: Jomon Jidai no Hisui
Oodama wo Meguru Kenkyu (Research Report on “Formation and Trades of Jomon
Society Seen from Prestige Goods:” Study on Large Jade Beads in the Jomon Period)
was published on jade. A study meeting of Kyushu Jomon Kenkyukai, “Jomon Jidai ni
Okeru Kyushu no Seishin Bunka (Spiritual Culture of Kyushu in the Jomon Period)” washeld in which spiritual artifacts were compiled. On weaving technique, Archaeological
Journal 636 featured aspects of various places, and Amimono Kenkyukai (Wovenartefacts study group: Delegate SUZUKI Mitsuo) held a symposium “Jomon Jidai noHenso Seihin Kenkyu no Toutatsuten: Chiikisei to Sozai ni Chumoku Shite (Achievementof Jomon Period Weaving Study: Focusing on Regional Characteristics and Materials).”
1 CulturalHeritage Laboratory, Teikyo University, 1566–2 Yokkaichiba, Isawa Town, Fuefuki City,
Yamanashi Prefecture, 406–0032, Japan(qckou@yahoo.co.jp)
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY 2 (2014): 74–77© Japanese Archaeological Association74

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IN JAPANAlso, OZEKI Kiyoko Jomon no Nuno: Nihon Retto Nuno Bunka no Kigen to Tokushitsu(Cloth of Jomon: the Origin and Characteristics of Cloth Culture in the JapaneseIslands) was published.
As for feature study, Ishikawaken Koko Gakkai focused on wooden pillar circles (kanjomokuchuretsu) under the title ‘Jomon Jidai Banki Tatemono “Kanjo Mokuchuretsu”(Final Jomon Structure “Wooden Pillar Circle”)’ [Ishikawa Kokogaku Kenkyukai Kaisi(Bulletin of Ishikawa Prefecture Archaeological Association)]. On the study of watering
place features, KURISHIMA Yoshiaki and others shared their thoughts at a symposium“Jomon Jidai no Shigen Riyo: Minzokugaku to Kokogaku kara Mita Kenkarui no Riyo
oyobi Mizuba Iko (Utilization of Resources in the Jomon Period: Utilization of Nutsand Watering Features Seen from Folklore and Archaeology).” On the pottery mound(dokizuka), there is ABE Yoshiro ‘Jomon Koki no Shuraku to Dokizuka: “TobedaigataDokizuka” no Keisei to Kasori B Shikiki no Chiiki Shakai (Jomon Villages and PotteryMounds: Formation of “Tobedai Style Pottery Mound” and Reginal Society in Kasori
B Style Phase)’ [Jinruishi to Jikan Joho: “Kako” no Keisei Katei to Senshi Kokogaku(Human History and Information of Time: Formation Process of “Past” and PrehistoricArchaeology)]. On bank features, there were theses such as KOBAYASHI Masaru“Sannai-Maruyama Iseki Nado no Morido Iko no Kenkyu Sono 2 (Study on Bank
Features at Sannai-Maruyama Site and Others 2)” Tokubetsu Shiseki Sannai Maruyama
Iseki Nenpo 15 (Annual Report on Special Historic Site, Sannai-Maruyama Site Vol. 15).
On settlement study, a “new horizon” group, Setsurumento (Settlement) Kenkyukai,
formed by KOBAYASHI Ken’ichi, KUROO Kazuhisa, NAKAYAMA Shinji, USAMI
Tetsuya and others, is quite enthusiastic, holding a study meeting “Jomon Kenkyu noChihei 2012 (Horizon of Jomon Study 2012)” and workshops. While their positivism
is highly evaluated, ISHII Hiroshi expects development in settlement theory and socialorganization theory [“Shurakuato Kenkyu to Jikan Shakudo (Study on Settlement
Remains Time Scale)” Kokogaku Kenkyu (Quarterly of Archaeological Studies) 59-2].
Also, research results of “Higashi Ajia Senshi Jidai no Teijuuka Katei no Kenkyu(Study on the Process of Permanent Settlement in Prehistoric East Asia)” was published(Bulletin of the National Museums of Japanese History 174), and Kansai Jomon Ronshu
3 (Jomon Theories in West Japan Vol. 3) contained theses on settlement theories inwestern Japan. A symposium “Joumon Jidai Chuki Bunka no Han-ei wo Saguru (Studyon Cultural Prosperity in Middle Jomon)” organized trends of Middle Jomon settlement
study in Koshin areas [Naganoken Kokogaku Kaishi (Bulletin of Nagano Prefecture
Archaeological Society) 143/144]. Also Early Jomon pottery and settlements in Hida
region were organized at a symposium “Jomon/Mineichigo Isaki no Jidai no Saikento(Reexamination of Jomon/Mineichigo Site Phase).”Archaeology Quarterly 118 and Archaeological Journal 630 and 633 had featured© Japanese Archaeological Association75

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articles on paleoanthropology and ancient human skeletons. Also, there were researchpresentations “Kokogaku to Jinruigaku no Koraboreeshon niyoru Iseki Kenkyu noKokoromi (Site Study by Collaboration between Archaeology and Anthropology)” and“Kodomo no Hone Kokogaku: Chiisana Honega Kataru Rekishi (Archaeology of Child
Bones: History Told by Small Bones)” at the 78th General Meeting of the JapaneseArchaeological Association
On subsistence, SUZUKI Katsuhiko ed. Siriizu Joumon Shuuraku no Tayousei III:Seikatsu Seigyo (Diversity of Jomon Village Series III: Life/Subsistence) organizedsubsistence in various places of the country, and there were featured articles in
Archaeological Journal 625, “Tokushu Jukotsu/Dobutsu Kokogaku (Animal Bones/Zooarchaeology)” and Archaeological Journal 627, “Jomon Jidai no Shigen Riyo toChiiki Shakai (Utilization of Resources and Regional Society in the Jomon Period).”
A symposium held by Naganoken Koko Gakkai, “Jomon Chuki Bunka Han-ei wo
Saguru (Study on Cultural Prosperity in Middle Jomon)” gave examination from theaspect of subsistence. On plant utilization study, remarkable development and signiﬁcantresults were achieved in recent years on observation of grain such as rice, fox millet
and millet, or bean marks by replica SEM method, mainly conducted by OBATA
Hiroki, NAKAZAWA Michihiko, and NAKAYAMA Seiji. Also, Middle Jomon groupof Naganoken Kokogakkai held a symposium “Jomon Jidai Chuki no Shokubutsu Riyo
wo Saguru (Study on Plant Utilization in Middle Jomon).” Examples of folklore studyon utilization of acorn and horse chestnuts, and paleoenvironmental study focusedon utilization of horse chestnuts in transition from Middle to Late Jomon should bementioned.
On natural scientiﬁc analysis, KUDO Yuichiro Kyusekki/Jomon Jidai no Kankyo
Bunkashi: Koseido Houshasei Tanso Nendai Sokutei to Kokogaku (Environmental
Cultural History of Paleolithic/Jomon Period: Highly Accurate Radio Carbon Dating
Measurement and Archaeology), and ANZAI Masato Kiko Hendo no Kokogaku(Archaeology of Climate Change) (Doseisha) were published. As radiocarbon dating
has developed, the relationship between climate change and chronological division ofthe Jomon Period is getting clearer, and a viewpoint to understand various cultural
phenomena from the perspective of climate and environmental changes is getting morefavorable. There were two symposia by Anzai on the transitional phase: “Touhoku
Chihou ni Okeru Chuki/Koki Hendoki: 4.3ka Ibento ni Kansuru Kokogaku Gensho 1(Middle/Late Jomon Transitional Phase in Tohoku Region: Archaeological Phenomena on
4.3ka Event 1)” and “Sanjuuinabashiki Doki Bunka no Sekai: 4.3ka Ibento ni Kansuru
Kokogaku Gensho 2 (World of Sanjuinaba Style Pottery Culture: Archaeological
Phenomena on 4.3ka Event 2.” On dating measurement, many examples of analysis werecompiled such as Tochibara-Iwakage site in Nagano Prefecture, a peat bed at Unoki site
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in Niigata Prefecture and so on. Also KOBAYASHI Ken’ichi discussed the life cycle ofpit dwellings based on dating measurement of dwellings destroyed by ﬁre [“Jomon JidaiTateana Jukyoato Maibotsu Katei no Kenkyu (Study on Burial Process of Jomon Pit
Dwellings)” Bulletin of National Museum of Japanese History 172].
Results of research inﬂuenced by the Great East Japan Earthquake included a study
meeting by Kansai Jomon Bunka Kenkyukai “Jomon Iseki ni Okeru Saigai no Konseki(Evidence of Disaster in Jomon Sites),” AIHARA Junichi “Jomon/Yayoi Jidai ni Okeru
Chokyodai Jisin Tsunami to Shakai/Bunka Hendo ni Kansuru Kosatsu: Higashi Nihon
Daishinsai no Chihei kara (Thoughts on Mega Earthquake and Tsunami and Social/
Cultural Change in Jomon/Yayoi Periods: From the Horizon of the Great East JapanEarthquake)” Tohoku Rekishi Hakubutsukan Kenkyu Kiyo (Bulletin of Tohoku HistoryMuseum) 13, SUZUKI Megumi “Kesen Chiho ni Okeru Jomon Iseki no Bunpu Keiko toTokucho ni Tsuite (Distribution Tendency and Characteristics of Jomon Sites in KesenRegion) Iwate Kokogaku (Iwate Archaeology) 23 which referred to inﬂuence of tsunami
on distribution of sites, and EBIHRARA Ikuo “Hibi Hoshu ga Aru Jomon Jukyo(Jomon Dwelling with Mended Cracks)” Karasawa Koko 31 which discussed dwellings
with traces of earthquakes. This is a new study ﬁeld that could be called “disasterarchaeology.”
Other than these mentioned above, outstanding excavation results were four largestone rods from the end of Middle Jomon excavated from a stone-paved dwelling inMidorikawa-higashi site in Kunitachi City, excavation of 11 human skeletons fromMiddle to Late Jomon at Shiyakagacho-2chome site in Shinjuku Ward, many Final
Jomon Angyo-style phase pit graves found with funerary equipment from circular ﬁllfeatures at Nagatake site, Kazo City, Saitama Prefecture, as well as excavation of an
Early Jomon circular settlement at Hiraoka site, Toyama City.
As for museum exhibitions, popular exhibitions were “Arukemetoria: Koko Ibutsu
to Bijyutsu Kogeihin wo Kagaku no Me de Sukashi Miru (Archaeometria: Seeing
Archaeological Artifacts and Arts/Crafts though Scientiﬁc Eyes)” (the UniversityMuseum, the University of Tokyo), “Dogu/Kosumosu (Clay Figurine/Cosmos)” (MihoMuseum), “Igyo no Jomon Doki (Odd-shaped Jomon Pottery)” (Tokamachi Museum),and “Jomon no Sekaizo: Yatsugatake Sanroku no Megumi (World View of Jomon:Blessing at the Foot of Mt. Yatsugatake)” (Museum of Yayoi Culture).

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