Japanese History Digest

Jomon period

Jomon period

The Jomon period is a crucial period in the prehistoric history of the Japanese archipelago. It began approximately 13,000 years ago and transitioned into the Yayoi period around 2,300 years ago, although the exact date varies by region. The name of this period comes from "Jomon pottery," often decorated with rope patterns. Jomon pottery comes in a variety of shapes and colors and is characterized by numerous small holes on its surface due to being fired at low temperatures. However, surprisingly, it was not all that fragile. People at that time lived by a combination of hunting, gathering nuts and wild vegetables, and fishing. It is believed that they made good use of the natural resources available, obtaining a balanced diet of animal meat, fish, shellfish, and plants. Pit dwellings, dug slightly into the ground, were common, and settlements often included storage pits, buildings supported by pillars, and large communal facilities. Large settlements, such as the Sannai-Maruyama site in Aomori Prefecture, demonstrate long-term settlement and systematic resource utilization. However, the size and duration of settlements varied by region.

While social structures are generally considered to have been equal, differences in tombstones, decorations, and facilities such as festival grounds suggest that some degree of inequality was beginning to emerge between people in some regions. Burials were often performed in a bent position, with graves dug into the ground, graves with stones arranged in rows, and even reburials. Clay figurines and stone clubs were representative of religious practices, and clay figurines of women in particular are thought to represent prayers for safe childbirth and abundance, or to ward off evil.

In addition, artifacts transported from distant regions, such as jade from Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, and obsidian mined throughout the region, have been discovered, indicating widespread interaction among people. While some plants, such as perilla and gourds, were cultivated and chestnuts were actively used, this practice differed from full-scale agriculture, such as growing rice in paddy fields. The Jomon period was a time when people adapted to live within nature and created a diverse culture, making it one of the origins of Japanese culture.

 

Facilities where you can learn about the Jomon period

Kasori Shell Mound Museum(Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture)
https://goo.gl/qYFRPf

Sannai-Maruyama Site（Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture）
http://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/

Chojagahara Archaeological Museum（Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture）
http://www.city.itoigawa.lg.jp/kouko/

Engaru Town Cultural Heritage Center（Engaru Town, Hokkaido）
https://engaru.jp/tourism/page.php?id=476

Kamegaoka Stone Age Site"（Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture）
http://jomon-japan.jp/jomon-sites/kamegaoka/

---