会誌『考古学研究』

CONTENTS

Vol.70　No.1（277）, June 2023

ARTICLES

• Decoration techniques and regionality of surikeshi jōmon pottery from western Japan during the early Late Jōmon period
• HATANAKA Kōsuke
  Abstract: In the early Late Jōmon period, well-decorated pottery and their associated decoration techniques spread across western Japan. The decoration techniques, called surikeshi jōmon, combined cord marks and incised lines with partial polishing. Employing a typological method, an elaborate archaeological chronology of the surikeshi jōmon pottery has been established for each region. However, the typological chronology does not sufficiently explain why the design of the pottery gradually changed to create this regionality.
  　In this paper, I focused on the decoration techniques of the designs and analyzed their changes by classifying the patterns of decoration techniques to reveal the nature of their change and the characteristics of regionality in the central San’in and the eastern Setouchi regions.
  　As a result of this analysis, it became clear that decoration techniques were different in each region and that this difference increased gradually. Specifically, the Late Fukuda style, a surikeshi jōmon pottery characterized by designs which were composed of bands of cord marks and three incised lines, derived from decoration techniques in the eastern Setouchi region. The regionality of decoration techniques had caused a generational change in designs in the eastern Setouchi region. It is thought that the regionality of decoration techniques, as basic elements of design, had grown autonomically and inspired a changing composition of design. Even when the same design had been produced in both the central San’in and the eastern Setouchi regions, it was expressed through different decoration techniques. Therefore, the distinctive regionality of decoration techniques can be found in the use of different techniques to create the same design.
  　This analysis confirmed that decoration techniques, as basic design elements, resulted in this regionality and influenced changes in designs. Additional analysis of the changes of techniques between generations will further the studies of Jōmon pottery.

  Keywords: early Late Jomon period; surikeshi jōmon pottery; decoration techniques; regionality
• Changes in harvesting tools from the Late to Terminal Yayoi period: A case study of western Japan
• MATSUO Mikishirō
  Abstract: In this paper, the author considers the changes in harvesting tools and techniques from the Late Yayoi period to the Terminal Yayoi period. Previous studies have shown that in addition to the stone reaping knives that had been used since the beginning of the Yayoi period, iron sickles, iron reaping knives, and wooden reaping knives came into use in the Late Yayoi period. However, there have been no studies examining in detail the specific aspects of the transition of tool types and harvesting techniques at a broad regional level. Therefore, in this paper, the author examines the emergence and establishment process of iron sickles and reaping knives and the decline of stone reaping knives in western Japan. The author considers how these three tool types and wooden knives combined in western Japan by analyzing their composition in each region and settlement site. The results show that the regional differences seen in iron sickles coincide with the regional variation of iron tools as a whole, while the diffusion of iron reaping knives and the decline of stone reaping knives does not coincide with the spread of iron tools. This occurs in the context of the Middle Yayoi stone tool production and distribution system being upset by the movement of settlement sites during the transition from the Middle to the Late Yayoi period. The author interprets the regional differences in harvesting tools from the Late to Terminal Yayoi period as being a response to the disruption of the production and distribution system of stone tools, resulting in each region making use of their available stone, iron, and wood resources. However, harvesting techniques themselves did not change significantly, as there was likely not enough change in crop yield to force a change in harvesting tradition.

  Keywords: harvesting tools; Yayoi period; iron sickles; iron reaping knives; stone reaping knives
• Regional differences in the composition of ceramic tableware from the Late Yayoi period to the Early Kofun period
• SHINAGAWA Ai
  Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to clarify the regional differences in the composition of ceramic tableware and the factors behind its distribution in the central Setouchi region and the Kinki region from the Late Yayoi period to the Early Kofun period. The author classifies the types of pedestaled dishes (takatsuki) and bowls, by diameter and shape, and compares the composition ratio of each ceramic type between regions. The results indicate that from the beginning of the Late Yayoi period, the pedestaled dish was the main type of tableware in each region, and bowls began to appear in the middle of the Late Yayoi period. From the end of the Yayoi period to the first half of the Early Kofun period, areas that used pedestaled dishes and those that used bowls became clearly distinct. In the latter half of the Early Kofun period, pedestaled dishes became the main type of tableware again in some areas. Focusing on the difference in usage between pedestaled dishes and bowls, the author considers the factors that caused regional differences in the composition of tableware.

  Keywords: Yayoi period; Kofun period; Kinki region; central Setouchi region; tableware composition
• Takadono and tatara iron smelting
• UWAGAKI Takeshi
  Abstract: Iron smelting with box-shaped furnaces (tatara), a method of iron manufacturing using iron sand as raw material and charcoal as fuel, was practiced during the early modern and modern periods within specially constructed facilities called takadono. In this paper, the author presents an archaeological study of takadono features found at tatara sites. Previous studies have proposed classifying takadono into three types based on their planar shape: Rounded square, right-angled square, and rectangular. The author further subdivides the structure based on the presence or absence of an adjoined shed (geya, a space covered by a slanted roof protruding from the building). We can see major changes occurring in the middle of the 18th century from a diachronic analysis of the morphological characteristics of the structure. These changes included the enlargement of the takadono and the corresponding adoption of a more stable structure (from a circular shape to a rounded square shape), as well as the standardization of the layout of the facilities within the building. These changes indicate that takadono were being adapted for long-term use. Furthermore, the author shows that adjoined sheds are a feature unique to the western Chūgoku region. In this region, the geographical condition of being located close to the coast was utilized to secure iron sand and charcoal via water transportation. Similarly, the facilities located in the mountains allowed for the procurement of building materials such as lumber and roof tiles, which may have been enabled by the installation of adjoined sheds for storage. The author considers the installation of adjoined sheds to represent not only a change in building structure but also a major change in overall management.

  Keywords: smelting facility (takadono); tatara iron smelting; enlargement; long-term use; adjoined shed (geya)

REPORTS, NEWS AND APPEALS

• On the recommendation and statement from the Science Council of Japan
• Standing Committee of the Society
• Consideration of academic freedom and thought control at "Regional Meeting to reconsider Japanese 'Foundation Day'" in Okayama
• MURATA Shūseki
• Report of attendance at mausoleum excavations in FY2022
• KIMURA Osamu, SAWADA Hidemi, SEINO Takayuki and NAKAKUBO Tatsuo
• Modern society and archaeology (Part 4) Conclusions
• NAGATOMO Tomoko

BOOK REVIEWS

• MISAKA Kazunori. Northeast Asia during the period of the adoption of rice cultivation as seen from pottery production technology
• MIYAJI Sōichirō

ARCHEO-FOCUS

• The site of Copan, Republic of Honduras
• NAKAMURA Seiichi
• The Cave Towers site and Mule Canyon, Utah, United States of America
• Anna NIELSEN and NISHIHARA Kazuyo

REPORT OF THE 69th BUSINESS AND ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY