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Durham E-Theses Jade, amber, obsidian and serpentinite: the social context of exotic stone exchange networks in central Japan during the late middle Jômon period Bausch, Ilona How to cite: Bausch, Ilona (2003) Jade, amber, obsidian and serpentinite: the social context of exotic stone exchange networks in central Japan during the late middle Jômon period, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4022/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 A copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. JadCy Ambery Obsidian and Serpentinite: the social context of exotic stone exchange networks in Central Japan during the Late Middle Jomon period by Ilona Bausch A thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of East Asian Studies, University of Durham 31 December 2003 I I JAN 7005 117 ABSTRACT The social context of exotic stone exchange nefworfcs in Centml Japan during the Late Middle Jomon period llona Bausch This dissertation presents a holistic, contextual approach to long-distance exchange networks in Central Japan ca. 4000BP, by focussing on the conditions behind consumption, circulation and production of exotic materials—particularly iadeite and amber, derived from unique and spatially limited source areas: the Japan Sea Coast and the Pacific Coast, respectively. Analysis is based on a sample of 175 sites located in Nagano, Yamanashi, Tokyo, Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures. Analysis of consumption patterns shows that (compared to other artefact categories) stone ornaments, particularly jadeite and amber pendants, are far more frequently associated with 'intentional deposition', namely mortuary contexts. This indicates that a different value was ascribed to jadeite and amber pendants. However, other evidence of social differentiation during the Middle Jomon is absent. Statistical analysis of wider distribution patterns, focusing on the variability of site characteristics, supports the hypothesis that the presence of jadeite and/or amber pendants is strongly associated with 'core' settlements sites characterised by large house numbers, continuous habitation throughout the Middle Jomon period, and evidence of ritual practices. Contrary to some hypotheses, evidence for related distribution between jadeite pendants and serpentinite adzes (from the same production sites) was lacking, whereas association with relatively high quantities of obsidian (used for arrowheads) proved to be strong. It is suggested that exploitation and export of nearby high-quality obsidian resources contributed to the prosperity and longevity of Japan Alps settlements. In the greater Tokyo Plains area, settlements stable and influential enough to participate in the exchange networks are located at major rivers or coastal areas. Preliminary assessment of the conditions at production sites suggests different motives for partrtime ornament production. It is hypothesised that inhabitants of the Japan Sea area—a hostile and isolated environment—may have engaged in fairly regular production and export of jadeite pendants and serpentinite ground adzes, in order to maintain interregional relations, possibly as a socio-economic safety net. Perhaps—in the absence of obvious environmental or subsistence constraints—Pacific Coast inhabitants produced amber pendants occasionally, exchanging them as hunting amulets between specialist hunters. However, further research involving subsistence patterns is essential for a deeper understanding of long-distance exchange network membership. Finally, it is suggested that instead of being individually-owned valuables, jadeite pendants (as 'esoteric', inalienable items) circulated among certain settlements in an interregional exchange network, regulating relationships and creating a social context for different types of exchange. Perhaps mortuary contexts indicate exchange relations with 'the other world'. DECLARATION Hereby I declare that this work is my own, and has not been previously submitted for a degree to this or any other University. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without their prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE ABSTRACT DECLARATION TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE i Introduction i Interregional exchange in Central Japan: the analysis scope ii Problems with the available data iv The aim of the analysis v Circumstances behind the Middle Jdmon interregional exchange vi Methodology: Statistical analysis ix The method of statistically testing association ix Variables to be tested x Summary: the outline of this research xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiv CHAPTER ONE: THE WORLD OFJOMON JAPAN 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.2 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOMON PERIOD 3 1.2.1 Japanese topography 3 1.2.2 Pottery styles and chronology of the Jomon period 6 1.3 SUBSISTENCE 7 1.3.1 'Hunter-fisher-gatherers' 7 1.3.2 Marine resources 7 1.3.3 Hunting 8 1.3.4 Plant food resources 9 1.4 JOMON SOCIAL LIFE 10 1.4.1 Settlements and population density 10 1.4.2 An unusual Middle Jomon settlement: Sannai-Maruyama 10 1.4.3 Interregional exchange 12 1.4.4 Ritual evidence 12 1.4.5 Burial practices 15 1.5 CONTEXTUALISING THE STUDY AREA AND PERIOD 17 1.5.1 Central Japan 17 1.5.2 Mid versus Late Middle Jomon 17 1.5.3 Periodization of the Late Middle Jomon 20 1.5.4 Sites, settlements and subsistence 20 1.5.5 A Late Middle Jomon interregional interaction sphere 21 1.5.6 Jadeite, amber, serpentinite and obsidian 22 CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL APPROACHES TOWARDS 24 EXCHANGE AND INTERACTION 2.1 INTRODUCTION 24 2.2 WESTERN THEORY 25 2.2.1 Developments in western thought 25 2.2.2 Approaches to interaction and exchange studies 28 2.2.3 Relevance of western approaches to Jomon exchange 34 2.2.4 Implications for Middle Jomon research 41 2.3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL THEORY IN JAPAN 43 2.3.1 General developments in Japanese archaeology 43 2.3.2 Influential empirical research 45 2.3.3 Interpretations concerning Jomon society 46 CHAPTER THREE: TRADITIONS IN J6MON ORNAMENT STUDIES 49 3.1 PREVIOUS RESEARCH ON MIDDLE JOMON BEADSTONE 49 ORNAMENTS 3.1.1 Stone ornament traditions 49 3.1.2 Properties of headstone used in the Hokuriku 50 3.1.3 Amber 52 3.1.4 Jadeite pendants 54 3.2 MIDDLE JOMON JADEITE CIRCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION 56 THEORIES 3.2.1 Distribution and trade routes 56 3.2.2 Post-Middle Jomon jade exchange 58 3.2.3 The social significance of green beadstone ornaments 58 3.2.4 Amber circulation and theories 60 3.2.5 Purpose of study 62 CHAPTER FOUR: THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING BEADSTONE 65 PRODUCTION 4.1 JADEITE PENDANT PRODUCTION AT THE JAPAN SEA COAST 65 4.1.1 The production sites 65 4.1.2 Traditions of pendant production at the Jadeite Coast 69 4.1.3 Jadeite production tools and technology 71 4.2 AMBER PRODUCTION SITE: AWASHIMADAI, EAST KANTO 73 'AMBER COAST' 4.2.1 Amber source information 73 4.2.2 Awashiniadai site evidence 75 CHAPITR FIVE: SPATIAL ASPECTS OF ORNAMENT CIRCULATION 78 5.1 THE CONDITIONS BEHIND THE CIRCULATION OF STONE 78 ORNAMENTS 5.1.1 Previous finds 78 5.1.2 Interregional variability in distribution 84 5.2 REGIONAL COMPARISONS 86 5.2.1 The Chubu Mountain area 86 5.2.2 West Kanto headstone distribution 94 5.2.3 East Kanto headstone distribution 101 5.2.4 Distribution summary 105 CHAPTER SIX: STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The relation between 107 ornament distribution and site characteristic variability 6.1 INTRODUCTION: THE SITE SAMPLE 107 6.2 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PART I: distinctive characteristics of sites 109 where stone ornaments are present 6.2.1 The method of analysis 109 6.2.2 Statistical analysis: sites with stone ornaments versus sites without ] 12 6.2.3 Generic stone ornament findings 121 6.3 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PART H: distinguishing in site 123 characteristics between sites with exotic pendants, and those with alternative stone pendants 6.3.1 The distinction between 'exotic' and 'alternative' ornaments 123 6.3.2 The statistical analysis: 'exotic' ornament distribution versus 'alternative' ornament distribution 6.3.3 The importance of large-scale settlements 134 CHAPTER SEVEN: THE CONSUMPTION OF EXOTIC ORNAMENTS 137 DURING THE MIDDLE J6MON 7.1 CONSUMPTION PATTERNS OF EXOTIC STONE ORNAMENTS 137 7.1.1 Middle Jomon stone ornament occurrences in the Central Japan sample 137 7.1.2 Different stone ornaments 139 7.1.3 Expectations of differential occurrence in special deposits 142 7.1.4 Differentiating between types of context in the Middle Jomon 144 7.1.5 A comparison of settlement context ratios among stone ornament ^ materials 7.2 A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CONTEXTS OF JADEITE ITEMS 148 7.2.1 The difference between jadeite adzes and ornaments 148 7.2.2 Contextual differences