Yayoi articles and news
[1] [2]
In late May, Japanese archaeologists made the announcement that radiocarbon dating suggests that the Yayoi period may have startedearlier than previously suspected. Check out the link below to read all about it!
Obituary: Makoto Sahara
(Japan Times July 11th, 2002)
Makoto Sahara, an archaeologist who
furthered knowledge of the Yayoi Period, died of pancreatic cancer at a hospital
in Chiba Prefecture on Wednesday morning, his family said. He was 70.
A native of Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, Sahara joined the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, in Nara Prefecture, in 1964 after completing doctoral studies at Kyoto University.
Rest of article here.
Burial mound discovered in Kyoto thought to date back to Yayoi Period
(Japan Times May 25, 2001)
KYOTO (Kyodo) A burial mound that may be one of the largest from the mid-to-late Yayoi Period ever unearthed in Japan has been found at the Hiyoshigaoka Ruins in the town of Kaya, Kyoto Prefecture, officials of the local board of education said Thursday.The Yayoi Period covers the era equivalent to around 200 to 100 B.C.
According to the officials, the size of the rectangular mound is second only to those at the Yoshinogari Ruins in Saga Prefecture.
Read the rest of the article here.
Yayoi brain tissue
preserved in ruins
(Japan Times April 17, 2001)
The discovery is believed to be the first of its kind in Japan, they said. Rest of article here.
Abstract from Higami, N. (2000) Reconsidering the function of "wooden agricultural implements", Kokogaku Kenkyu 47(3), 97-109.
Abstract from Kawamura, Y. (2000) The Birth of "Jade magatama", Kokogaku Kenkyu 47(3), 44-62.
Abstract from Arai, H. (2000) Estimation of the provenance of lead contained in bronze objects by lead isotope analysis, Kokogaku Zasshi 85, 1-30. (ADOBE pdf format)
Archaeologists unearth settlement mentioned in Wei Chronicle
(Japan Times November 4, 2000)
Archaeologists are interpreting the remains of an Yayoi village found on Tsushima Island as the Tsushimakoku Kingdom mentioned in the Wei Chronicle. Over 40,000 square meters has been exposed, revealing 100 possible platform houses and over 10,000 Yayoi pottery sherds and some Korean pottery sherds.
Abstract from Takase, K. (2000) The formation process of Yayoi pottery in the Tohoku district, Bulletin of the National Museum of Japanese History 83, 61-96. (ADOBE pdf format)
Abstract in ADOBE pdf format from Shitara, H. (2000) A new conception of the Yayoi culture of Jomon descent, Kokogaku Kenkyu 47(1), 2000, 88-100.
Ishii, Yoshimi (2000) Numerical Simulation of the Propagation of Ancient Local Names. Journal of Computer Archaeology 6, 14-27.
Abstract: About 2,000 years ago, a kingdom called Ito existed in Fukuoka Prefecture. For ten years, the autor has been conducting research into the names of many places in the Kingdom of Ito. I have been particularly interested in 16 place names, which we call Maruchimei (place names featuring the word maru): Kanamaru, Ishimaru, Oumaru, Daimaru, Komaru, Tokumaru, Otomaru, Fukumaru, Miyamaru, Inumaru, Ushimaru, Iwamaru, Namaru, Tsunemaru, Onimaru, and Kamemaru. Maruchimei are now mound all over the country.
All distances were measured between Maruchimei and about 25,000 ruins, which were divided into 19 eras and 42 prefectures. The rate of Maruchimei located within 2 kilometers of a ruin was determined for each era and prefecture. Let us consider that Maruchimei extended into the prefecture during the era that their existence was shown to be highest in the prefecture. We will discuss the relationship between the origins of the Japanese people and the propagation of Maruchimei.
The conclusions are as follows:
1) We found that most Maruchimei located nationwide were named between 300 BC to 500 AD.
2) The birthplace of Maruchimei was in the kingdom of Ito, approximately 2,200 years ago.
3) It is clear that the Kingdomm of Ito moved to Yamato and became the Kingdom of Yamato late in the third century.
4) The racial migration from kyushu to Yamato has been called Tosen in Japanese. This report clarifies the actual existence of Tosen.
5) Conclusions match well with descriptions that appear in the Nihonshoki and Kojiki.
6) The distribution of Maruchimei coincides well with the distribution of ruins from the yayoi to Kofun period.
7) It is clear that Maruchimei are important clues to discovering the frontier that existed 2,000 years ago.
8) We have discovered two great Shuken, concentric circles of Maruchimei, that were created in the Yayoi and Kofun periods.
9) The propagation of Maruchimei is logical, following the laws of science.
DIG TURNS UP RARE EARTHENWARE JUG
A complete gourd shaped earthenware bottle has been found at Kitakyushu, Kokura-minami Ward during the course of excavation. This is the first time an intact vessel of this type has been recovered. The volume is approximately 500 cc.
ANCIENT MIRRORS UNEARTHED IN FUKUI
(Japan Times, September 2, 2000)
This article briefly described the discovery of an Early Yayoi type mirror and a Wei-period TLV mirror in a wooden casket inside Hananotani No. 1 burial mound. The mound is located in Fukui city in Fukui Prefecture. Stylistically the Yayoi mirror is believed to date to around 100 BC; while the Wei-period, TLV mirrors date to the fourth century AD. This is the first time Yayoi and Wei period mirrors have been found in the same burial; it is evidence that some of the metalwork was used as an heirloom and not all was recycled.