ARCHAEOLOGIA JAPONICA

Interdisciplinary Research
FUNAHASHI Kyoko1
Regarding subsistence, studies are being conducted of impressions on pottery left bycereal grains, seeds/insects, and animal remains in addition to the usual plant opal
phytolith analysis [OBATA Hiroki. ‘Doki Akkon Toshite Kenshutsu Sareta Konchu
to Gaichu (Insects and Vermin Detected via Impressions on Pottery)’ In Watashi noKokogaku: Niwa Yuichi Sensei Tainin Kinen Ronbunshu (My Archaeology: MemorialTheses for Retirement of Prof. NIWA Yuichi), pp. 103–123].
As for production activity, diverse studies from Jomon to the ancient period are being
carried out using various data and analytical methods, such as isotope analysis of remains
on pottery, clay analysis, form observation of animal remains, and plant remain analysis[YOSHIDA Hiroaki and SUZUKI Mitsuo. ‘Miyagiken Tagajoato no Koseido Shokusei
Fukugen kara Mita Kodai no Shinrin Bassai to Chikei Keisei heno Eikyo (AncientDeforestation and Inﬂuence on Topographic Formation Seen from High-Precision
Vegetation Reconstruction at Tagajo Castle Remains in Miyagi Prefecture)’ Kikan
Chirigaku (Quarterly Geography) 64(4), pp. 55–172].
On distribution theory, more accurate identiﬁcation of material production sites isbeing conducted using geoscientiﬁc high-precision analysis (clay analysis using XRF
or LA-ICP-MS, and major/trace/rare-earth element analysis for stone materials) as well
as ﬂuorescent X-ray analysis on stone, glass, pottery clay, tile glazing, etc. [ISHIDATomoko, et al. ‘XRF oyobi LA-ICP-MS wo Mochiita Chikyu Kagakuteki Kouseido
Bunseki ni Yoru Yayoi Doki no Sanchi Dotei (Identiﬁcation of Yayoi Pottery Production
Place by Geoscientiﬁc High-Precision Analysis Using XRF and LA-ICP-MS)’ Dai 30kai
Nihon Bunkazai Kagakukai (30th Conference of the Japan Society for Scientiﬁc Studieson Cultural Properties).]On rituals, study on funeral rituals is being undertaken, such as use classiﬁcation seenfrom objects attached to pottery and ritualistic damage to human remains, reburial, andburial methods [ISHIKAWA Takeshi. Boso Hanto ni Okeru Jomon Jidai no Itai Kison
Jirei (Examples of Ritualistic Damage to Human Remains in Boso Peninsula during
the Jomon Period)’ In Studies in East Asian Archaeology and History III, pp. 9–27].
Regarding kinship, there is a study on kinship assumption using grave analysis/situation
1 The University Museum, Kyushu University, 6–10–1 Hakozaki, Higashi Ward, Fukuoka 812–8581, Japan(funahashi@museum.kyushu-u.ac.jp)

JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY 3 (2015): 46–47© Japanese Archaeological Association

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JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY 3 (2015): 46–47

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Title
IN JAPANof excavated bones, and dental crown measurements [TANAKA Yoshiyuki. ‘Yayoi Jidai
Retsujobo to Shinzoku Kankei (Yayoi Priod Lined Graves and Kinship)’ In Studies
in East Asian Archaeology and History III, pp. 55–66]. Regarding general societal
aspects, there are studies of concrete images of people engaged in rice farming in Japanand of population migration [TANAKA Yoshiyuki. ‘Iwayuru Toraisetsu no Seiritsu
Katei to Torai no Jitsuzo (Formation Processes of So-called Inﬂux Theory and TheirReality)’ In Retto ni Okeru Shoki Inasaku no Ninaite wa Dareka (People Engaged inEarly Rice Farming in Japan), pp. 3–48]. On life history, studies were conducted usingenamel hypoplasia and parasite eggs, etc. [SAWADA Junmei and HIRATA Kazuaki.
‘Enamerushitsu Genkeisei kara Saguru Nyu/Yojiki no Seikatsushi (Life History ofInfants Seen from Enamel Hypoplasia)’ In Nihon Kokogaku Kyokai Dai 79kai Sokai(Proceedings of the 79th General Meeting of Japanese Archaeological Association)].
Regarding natural disasters and prehistory/ancient society, active discussion is being
exchanged on detection of traces of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and how people inthe past coped with such natural disasters [Gunma Archaeological Research Foundation
Shizen Saigai to Kokogaku: Saigai/Fukko wo Gunma no Iseki kara Saguru (NaturalDisasters and Archaeology: Disasters and Reconstruction Seen from ArchaeologicalSites in Gunma), Jomo Shinbunsha]. As for dating theory, many suggestions were madeto reevaluate dendrochronology as used for date calibration [SAKAMOTO Minoru.
‘Jitsunendai no Sadamatta Nihonsan Jumoku no Kouseido Tanso 14 Nendai Sokutei(High-precision C-14 Dating on Japanese Trees with Actual Dating)’ In 30th Conventionof Japan Society for Scientiﬁc Studies on Cultural Properties].
Katayama Kazumichi reevaluated the gender of remains buried in Fujinoki burial
mound from the Kofun period, and responding to criticism on discrepancies between
viewpoints based on archaeological data and on physical anthropology, he made animportant proposal that the meaning of the discrepancy should be clariﬁed from the sideof archaeology [‘Fujinoki Kofun Jinkotsu Saiko: Minamigawa Hisosha wa Dansei Dearu(Reevaluation of Human Bones at Fujinoki Mounded Tomb: Southside Burial Belongedto Men)’ In Kashihara Kokogaku Kenkyujo Ronshu (Bulletin of Archaeological Instituteof Kashihara) 16, pp. 132–143].

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