Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku

Home , Akita Prefecture, Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture

Jomon culture Seeking World Heritage Inscription

Jomon culture, which began in 13,000 BC and continued for about 10,000 years, is a well- known prehistoric culture peculiar to the Japanese archipelago. It formed a long-lasting, sustainable Boar-shaped clay figure society by adapting to the ecosystem which is （Important Cultural Property） Tokoshinai 2 Site uncommonly rich in biodiversity and coexisting with Jomon Archaeological Sites in nature. Without implementing the full-scale agricul- Censer-shaped pottery ture and pastoralism, Jomon culture accomplished Kakinoshima Site and continued a sedentary and corporative society for long periods based on hunting, gathering and fishing as main subsistence. Therefore, being differ- Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku ent from neolithic cultures in rest of the world, Jomon culture is an extraordinarily rare prehistoric Clay objects stamped by hand and foot of child culture in the world history. Oishitai Site Ornamental comb made of antler （Aomori prefecturally- designated cultural property） Seeking World Heritage Inscription Futatsumori Shell Midden

Jomon cultural sites are widely distributed throughout the Japanese archipelago. Despite that basic elements of Jomon culture are shared with other regions, thousands of sites are known

in Hokkaido and northern Tohoku region. It is also a representative region where typical Ento-Kaso type pottery cultural spheres in Jomon period ﬂourished, such are like Ento-pottery Culture and （ Important Cultural Property） Kamegaoka Culture. Among them, ‘Jômon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaidô and Northern Sannai-Maruyama Site Tôhoku’ can strongly represent the whole features of Jomon culture. In these sites, a ceramic Large jade bead assemblage of the oldest group in the world was unearthed, and clay ﬁgurines associated with Sannai-Maruyama Site Jomon spiritual world and large stone circles concentrated. In addition, there are many sites where rich natural environment is conserved in this group. For instance, vegetation and landform both of which are reminiscent of prehistoric Jomon culture are well-preserved. ‘Jômon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaidô and Northern Tôhoku’ are, representing the prehistoric culture that emerged and developed in the good relationship between human and nature, properties which Lacquered spouted vessel proves the superior value of Jomon Culture. Kakinoshima Site

We believe that the Jomon archaeological sites in the four areas of

Hokkaido, Aomori prefecture, Iwate prefecture, Akita prefecture and Akamido type pottery Clay tablet related municipalities hold a cultural heritage that should be preserved Choshichiyachi Shell Midden （Akita prefecturally- for future generation as an invaluable treasure common to humanity designated cultural property） Oyu Stone Circles not only Japan, and we are aiming for World Heritage registration to ensure that these sites will be preserved in perpetuity. Lacquer painted plate shaped The value of the Jomon archaeological sites has been recognized, and on January 5th, 2009 the pottery（Aomori prefecturally- designated cultural property） group of sites was recorded on the World Heritage tentative list as a World Heritage candidate. Kamegaoka Site Moving forward, we will further our eﬀorts to achieve World Heritage registration.

Proposing local governments of the Jomon Archaeological Site in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku Hokkaido, Aomori prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Akita prefecture, Hakodate City, Chitose City, Date City, Mori Town, Toyako Town, Aomori City, Hirosaki City, Hachinohe City, Tsugaru City, Sotogahama Town, Shichinohe Town, Ichinohe Town, Kazuno City, Kitaakita City Contact Information Culture and Sports Division, Bureau of Daily Life Safety, Department of Environment and Lifestyle, Hokkaido Government TEL +81-11-204-5168 FAX +81-11-232-8695 Cultural Properties Protection Division, Secretariat Oﬃce of the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education TEL +81-17-734-9922 FAX +81-17-734-8280 Lifelong Learning and Culture Division, Iwate Prefectural Board of Education TEL +81-19-629-6177 FAX +81-19-629-6179 Cultural Assets Preservation Oﬃce, Akita Prefectural Bureau of Education TEL +81-18-860-5193 FAX +81-18-860-5886

http://jomon-japan.jp

Clay figurine (goggle-eyed) （Important Cultural Property） Flat clay figurine Hollow clay figurine Kamegaoka Site Large size flat clay figurine （Akita prefecturally- Clay figurine with clasping hands Clay figurine (goggle-eyed) （National Treasure） Tokyo National Museum／（Important Cultural Property） designated cultural property）（National Treasure）（Important Cultural Property） Chobonaino Site Image:TNM Image Archives Sannai-Maruyama Site Isedotai Site Kazahari 1 Site Nimaibashi 2 Site Jomon Archaeological Sites in ❶Ofune Site ❷Kakinoshima Site ❸Kiusu Earthwork Burial Circles ❹Kitakogane Shell Midden Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku

‘Jômon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaidô, Northern Tôhoku, and other regions’ consist of eighteen sites including special historic site Sannai-Maruyama site and Oyu Stone Circle. They involve all the remarkable elements of Jomon culture, such are like settlements, shell middens and monuments. Furthermore, since these sites are located at various places including seashore, inland, lake area and river basin, ‘Jômon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaidô, Northern Tôhoku, and other regions’ are extraordinarily valuable representing several aspects of Jomon culture and their diachronic changes.

❶ Historic site Ofune Site / Hakodate City, Hokkaido ❷ Historic site Kakinoshima Site / Hakodate City, Hokkaido Washinoki Site Irie/Takasago Shell Midden Sannai-Maruyama Site Hokkaido ❸ ❺ ❻ ❼ ❸ Historic site Kiusu Earthwork Burial Circles / Chitose City, Hokkaido ❻ ❹ ❹ Historic site Kitakogane Shell Midden / Date City, Hokkaido ❺ Historic site Washinoki Site / Mori Town, Hokkaido ❺ ❶ ❷ ❻ Historic site Irie/Takasago Shell Midden / Toyako Town, Hokkaido ❼ Special Historic site Sannai-Maruyama Site / Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture ❽ Historic site Komakino Site / Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture ❾ Historic site Omori-Katsuyama Site / Hirosaki City, Aomori prefecture 14 Aomori 10 Historic site Choshichiyachi Shell Midden / Hachinohe City, Aomori prefecture 12 13 ❼ 15 11 Historic site Korekawa Site / Hachinohe City, Aomori prefecture ❾ ❽ 10 12 Historic site Tagoyano Shell Midden / Tsugaru City, Aomori prefecture 11 13 Historic site Kamegaoka Site / Tsugaru City, Aomori prefecture 17 14 Historic site Odai-Yamamoto Site / Sotogahama Town, Aomori prefecture 18 16 Akita Iwate 15 Historic site Futatsumori Shell Midden / Shichinohe Town, Aomori prefecture 16 Historic site Goshono Site / Ichinohe Town, Iwate prefecture 17 Special Historic site Oyu Stone Circles / Kazuno City, Akita prefecture 18 Historic site Isedotai Site / Kitaakita City, Akita prefecture ❽Komakino Site ❾Omori-Katsuyama Site 10Choshichiyachi Shell Midden 11Korekawa Site 12Tagoyano Shell Midden 13Kamegaoka Site

14Odai-Yamamoto Site 15Futatsumori Shell Midden 16Goshono Site 17Oyu Stone Circles 18Isedotai Site