Collaborative Research
Study on the Formation Process of Prehistoric Residential Settlements at the East Asia
| Type of Research | Specific Research |
|---|---|
| Research Title | Study on the Formation Process of Prehistoric Residential Settlements at the East Asia |
| Head of the Research Team | KOBAYASHI Ken'ichi |
| Research Period | 2007–2009 |
| Research Team |
|
| Purpose | While research on settlements and pottery sequences in the Jomon period has served as a cornerstone of the study of prehistoric archaeology in Japan, such research cannot be said to have produced entirely satisfactory results. Despite a sizeable amount of investigation into Jomon settlements in broad areas and into large-scale developments that occurred during the period of rapid economic growth, details of such cases tend to be vague. In particular, when the group examined the mid-Jomon period in eastern Japan—where the largest volume of ruins have been found, along with many settlements—there still remains divergent opinions concerning which dwellings existed simultaneously and the residential stability of those settlements. Settlement ruins of the mid- and incipient Jomon periods (settlements and caves or campsite-like settlements) are important and typical objects of both Jomon settlement research and discussions of Jomon society. Under these circumstances, further clarification of settlement structures and dwelling forms will take place; subsequent examinations of the results within the contexts of pottery-sequence and age-determination research are expected to offer significant contributions to prehistoric society research. In future, the group would like to develop its study objects so as to include the prehistoric settlements of the entire Jomon period and throughout the whole of the Japanese Archipelago, as well as east Asia, to perform complementary research that gives rise to shared research resources. |
2008
Progress
The group held workshops, conducted cooperative investigations, and proceeded with data compilation. In addition to workshops at the NMJH, fieldwork at Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture and Shari Town, Hokkaido was conducted. Along with the fieldwork in Hokkaido, workshops were held at the Obihiro Centennial City Museum and the Shiretoko Museum in Shari Town. In the meantime, individual cooperative researchers conducted material investigations of pottery excavated from Jomon settlements at the Kasori Shell Mounds Museum in Chiba City and the Makabemachi Museum of History and Folklore.
The group was also engaged in data-compilation work on ruins and the analysis of artifact distribution within dwellings, using application software for the analysis of ruin spaces; doing so revealed details of residential settlements that had been developed in the mid-Jomon period, and it also provided basic data for examining details of settlement activities in the mid-Jomon period. In addition, in order to examine the degree of residential stability in the incipient Jomon period, the group focused on the Kamikuroiwa Ruins and prepared basic data, including that generated through stratigraphy and the study of ruin artifacts.
The group also conducted several meetings for individual research discussion, including those among researchers in charge of Tokyo Metropolitan government.
Result
In Tokyo, the group constructed a database of mid-Jomon settlement ruins, using some of the settlement data compiled this year; that database was subsequently disclosed to the National Institutes for the Humanities Resource Sharing System. Its contents will be further developed in the future.
Research results concerning the incipient Jomon period will be published in a special edition of the "NMJH Report on Research Activities."
2007
Progress
The group held workshops, conducted cooperative investigations, and proceeded with data-compilation work. Five workshops were held at the NMJH, the Naraha-machi Museum of History in Fukushima Prefecture, and the Kamikuroiwa Museum of Archaeology in Kumakogen Town, Ehime Prefecture.
The group is also engaged in data-compilation work with regards to the ruins, based on work-sharing among researchers and with help from support personnel. It is also taking part in examinations of artifact distribution within dwellings, using application software for the analysis of ruin spaces; in doing so, the group looks to reveal the details of residential settlements developed in the mid-Jomon period. This information will serve as basic data for examining details of settlement activities in the mid-Jomon period. This year, the group also conducted data-compilation work on ruins in Tokyo.
In order to examine the degree of residential stability in the incipient Jomon period, the group focused on the Kamikuroiwa Ruins and are preparing basic data thereof, including stratigraphy data and information concerning the ruin's artifacts. For this purpose, the group is engaged in the investigation and analysis of artifacts excavated from the Kamikuroiwa Ruins, deferring to analysis experts such as Takahiro Nakahashi, Tsuyoshi Ushino, and Shuji Ninomiya whenever necessary.
Result
Concerning the mid-Jomon period, the group is constructing a database of mid-Jomon settlement ruins in Tokyo; that database makes use of some of the settlement data compiled this year, for a trial disclosure at National Institutes for the Humanities Resource Sharing System.
Concerning the incipient Jomon period, some of the research results are reflected in the record of the Rekihaku Forum "The Beginning of the Jomon Period," which was held in 2005.
