at prehistoric sites, the most important of which are designated as National Historic Remains.
Sannai Maruyama Iseki
Sannai Maruyama Iseki (iseki means "remains") in Aomori Prefecture is the site of a Jōmon village that existed for around 1,500 years, from 3500 to 2000 BCE. The findings at Sannai Maruyama have forced scholars to change their ideas about Jōmon communities. Contrary to earlier beliefs that Jōmon people had a primitive lifestyle based upon hunting wild animals, the residents of Sannai Maruyama settled in one place for an extended period of time, cultivated some food such as chestnuts, imported goods by boat from different parts of Japan, buried their dead, and lived at peace with their neighbors. So far, reconstruction has been completed for one large and five small pit dwellings, three raised floor structures, and one large structure consisting of posts sunk in the ground (perhaps used as a lookout), which may have had a roof. A committee of experts from the fields of architecture, archaeology, and ethnology are continuing research on how to proceed with reconstruction.
Exterior and interior of the large pit structure used for gatherings at the Fudōdō Iseki Jōmon site.
Fudōdō Iseki
Situated at the northeastern corner of Toyama Prefecture, the Fudōdō site dates from around 3000 BCE. Excavations started in 1973 and so far have uncovered 19 house sites, nine deep holes which seem to have been used for storing food, and numerous earthen and stoneware vessels. Especially notable is the evidence of a huge oval-shaped pit building, measuring 8 by 17 meters, in the middle of the settlement. Because this is four to five times larger than an average house site, and has four sets of stone structures for cooking, it is believed that this building was used for gatherings. This meeting hall and two other buildings have been reconstructed at the site so far.
Smoke hole in the roof of the Fudōdō Iseki pit structure.
Yoshinogari Iseki
Yoshinogari, in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, is situated on a low hill bordered by a river on two sides. Excavations, begun in 1986, have uncovered habitation sites spanning the entire Yayoi period (300 BCE.-300 CE.). By the latter part of the mid-Yayoi Period, a large-scale settlement guarded by surrounding moats was in place. Excavations have uncovered numerous skeletons buried in ceramic urns and a rich material culture, including bronze implements and glass beads. Both skeletons and material remains indicate a Korean origin.
By the late Yayoi Period", Yoshinogari possessed two smaller areas within the larger area, marked off by inner moats and fences. The most important buildings were located in these smaller areas, one on the south and one on the north. In 1986, two watchtowers and three pit houses were reconstructed in the south fenced area, as well as two raised storage buildings to the west of this fenced area.
Reconstruction of the north fenced area has been under way since 1999. This area, which contains several buildings, was probably the compound of a chief. It includes a pit house and several raised structures, one of which is a large building believed to be an early shrine. The other raised buildings include what appear to be lookout towers, storehouses, and a structure that the chief may have used for residential, political, religious, and ceremonial functions—an early form of a palace. It would have been difficult, however, to construct a fire pit in a raised structure, so cooking was probably confined to the pit house. In later times, new methods of containing fire allowed cooking to be done in raised buildings.
In recognition of the fact that it was the largest Yayoi settlement surrounded by moats, and that it probably developed into a key component of the emerging Yamato State, Yoshinogari has been designated a Special National Historic Remain.
Yoshinogari is a very large Yayoi site containing two smaller areas for the most important structures, one on the north and one on the south. Depicted here are the buildings that were reconstructed in the south area in 1986. They are enclosed by a fence on top of a high earthen wall and two moats. There are entrances at both ends and watchtowers on both sides. Elevated storehouses and numerous pit dwellings lie outside the enclosed area.
Long House at Sannai Maruyama
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of 800 pit structures and 120 post-and-beam structures at Sannai Maruyama. The long house shown here, based on a model at the National Museum of Japanese History, is the largest of the pit structures. Because of its size, it is believed to be a public building used for meetings and ceremonies. The massive roof rests on walls, unlike most small pit structures in which the roof rests directly on the ground.
Ceremonial building at the Ikegami-sone reconstructed Yayoi site. The members of the structure are tied together (see above right), as was common in prehistoric buildings and later farmhouses. Since rope can stretch, such buildings could move during a typhoon without causing serious damage. Next to the building is a covered well, made from a hollowed out camphor tree, probably used for purification ceremonies connected with the large building. Photographs courtesy of Izumi City.
Ikegami-sone Iseki
This Yayoi site, in Osaka Prefecture, is located on a low hill surrounded by a moat, with rivers (that no longer exist) to the east and west. As at Yoshinogari, there is a smaller enclosed area that seems to have been set aside for the chief, as well as factory areas for making stone tools and other products. Ikegami-sone was settled for the entire Yayoi Period, from 300 BCE to 300 CE.
A large-scale excavation was done between 1969 and 1971. In 1994, they discovered the remains of a large building 6.9 by 19.2 meters with a floor area of 130 square meters. Parts of the 17 posts used in the building are still in the ground. Using modern dating methods, it has been determined that one of the posts was cut in 52 BCE, about the middle of the Yayoi Period. So far, one pit house and two elevated post-and-beam buildings have been reconstructed.
A distinguishing feature of this building is the use of thick posts at either end to support a roof with a large overhang. Unlike most Yayoi elevated storehouses, this use of end posts is in the fashion of Shinto shrines, such as those at Ise and Izumo, discussed in the next section. The ceremonial building at Ikegami-sone may, in fact, have been an early shrine.
Changing Conceptions
It was long thought that the Jōmon people lived a simple hunting and gathering lifestyle that preceded rice cultivation, lived in small villages of only five or six simple buildings, used stone tools, and subsisted on wild boar, deer, shellfish, and nuts. In contrast, it was believed that the Yayoi people brought a much more sophisticated culture, including advanced forms of architecture, with them from the mainland.
Though there is undoubtedly some truth to this generalization, the distinction between the two cultures should not be overemphasized. Recent findings indicate that although Yayoi villages were more heavily fortified and exhibit a greater degree of social stratification, Jōmon villages were sometimes quite large, diverse, and persisted over considerable periods of time. Moreover, Jōmon people traveled long distances by boat, engaging in trade with areas as far apart as Hokkaido and western Honshu.
