Jomon and Yayoi Chronologies in Aomori Prefecture

Japaneses Archaeology

May 4, 2000

Jomon and Yayoi Chronologies in Aomori Prefecture

by Charles T. Keally

Periods, Subperiods, Sub-subperiods, and Phases:

Chronologies in Japanese archaeology are divided into a number of "periods" (Yayoi, Jomon, etc.), which are also the names used for the respective "cultures". Each of these periods is divided into 3 to 6 "subperiods" (Middle Yayoi, Earliest Jomon, etc.). These subperiod names are capitalized in English. In the Jomon Period, the subperiods are also further divided (unofficially) into a number of "sub-subperiods" -- beginning, early, middle, late, ending, terminal (as in "early Middle Jomon"). These sub-subperiod names are not capitalized in English. The "phases" are roughly the other face of the pottery types. (Why the pottery types are such precise time markers is a separate discussion.) In American terminology, it might be possible to consider the sub-subperiods as phases and the Japanese phases/pottery types as sub-phases.

Regional Chronologies:

No regional chronology can be understood solely on the basis of the pottery types characteristic of that region -- invariably, pottery types from neighboring regions will appear in most sites. Consequently, this chronology for Aomori in the North Tohoku Region of Japan includes many of the pottery types found in the South Tohoku Region and in the Southwest Hokkaido Region to the north of Aomori. At some times, many of the pottery types were widespread and characteristic in two or more regions. During the Yayoi Period in Aomori, the culture in Hokkaido is known as the Epi-jomon Culture/Period (shaded green in the chronology chart).

Dating in Japanese Archaeology:

The dates given in this table are uncalibrated radiocarbon dates. Japanese archaeology is not well informed on the fine points of using radiometric dates, hence sources often do not give laboratory numbers or other primary citation information for the dates they list. Further, there are no recent conpilations of dates, so most dates must be gleaned individually from a mountain of excavation reports and other separate sources. Some of the dates were calculated with the 5,730 half-life, others with the 5,568 half-life. Which half-life was used is often hard to determine. Since the difference is only about 150 years for the already rough dates here, I have ignored this factor for the time being.

Notes:

This chart is not yet finished. First, I have not put in many of the pottery types from the neighboring regions. Second, there are a lot more dates that can be added. And third, eventually I hope to link the pottery names to illustrations of the pottery types, as I have done with the Tokoshinai I type of Late Jomon.

Period /
Subperiod Sub-
subperiod Phase / Pottery Type

Southern Tohoku Northern Tohoku Hokkaido

Late Yayoi Tennoyama Chokaisan
Chitose Ebetsu
Kohoku B, C

. Oishitai 2

Middle Yayoi . Nembutsuma
Jusanzuka
Yasakatai Esan IV

. Inakadate 2, 3
2,080±110 Esan III

. Utetsu II
Isawa
Inakadate 1
Omotedate Esan II

Early Yayoi . Gosho
Nimaibashi
Oishitai 1
Seno Esan I

. Sunasawa Obora A, A'

Latest
Jomon late Obora A' Makino
Obora A'
Ken'yoshi

Obora A Obora A
Kuzusawa

middle Obora C2
2,708 (ave. N=4) Obora C2
Imatsu Obora C2

Obora C1 Obora C1
2,865 (ave. N=20) [Table 1]
(range 2,780-2,920)
Imatsu Obora C1

early Obora BC Obora BC
Korekawa Obora BC

Obora B Obora B
Tokoshinai VI
2,820±130 (N-110) Obora B

Late
Jomon end Nishinohama Tokoshinai V Gotenyama

late . Tokoshinai IV Tobayashi

. Tokoshinai III

Miyato 2 Tokoshinai II
Oyu
3,680±130 (N-114)
3,330±110 Teine

early Miyato 1 Tokoshinai I
3,490±95 Irie

. Iyasakatai

. Okizuke

Monzen Ushigasawa
Omagari I Yoichi

Middle
Jomon end Daigi 10 Daigi 10

. Saibana
Nakanotai III
3,670±120

late Daigi 9 Nakanotai II

Daigi 8b Enokibayashi Enokibayashi
4,190±190 (Gak-5224)

. Nakanotai I

Ento Upper
series Daigi 8a Ento Upper e

. Ento Upper d

Daigi 7b Ento Upper c
4,580±300 Ento Upper b, c
4,660±100 (Gak-5493)
5,230±170 (Gak-5494)
5,350±110 (Gak-5497)

Daigi 7a Ento Upper b

Nukazuka Ento Upper a Ento Upper a

Early
Jomon middle /

Ento Lower
series Daigi 5-6
4,880±120 (TH-265)
4,440±120 (TH-305b) Ento Lower d2
Ishigami Ento Lower d
5,440±105 (Gak-5492)

Daigi 3-4
4,820 (ave. N=6)
(range 4,710-4,990) Ento Lower d1
Ishigami

Daigi 2b Ento Lower c
4,930±90 (N-3914)
4,790±100 (N-3916)
4,850±90 (N-3915) Ento Lower c

Daigi 2a Ento Lower b2
4,870±130 (N-242) Ento Lower b
4,900±95 (N-2504)

. Ento Lower b1

Daigi 1 Ento Lower a1, a2
5,300±330
Sannai Maruyama layer VIa

4,732±83 (NUTA-5374)
4,779±87 (NUTA-5366)
4,781±92 (NUTA-5376)
4,842±86 (NUTA-5375)
5,145±90 (NUTA-5368)
Sannai Maruyama layer VIb

4,970±119 (NUTA-5348)
5,005±88 (NUTA-5347)
5,077±84 (NUTA-5369)
5,103±87 (NUTA-5373)
5,108±106 (NUTA-5346)
Ento Lower a
5,003 (ave. N=7)
(ave. 4,710-5,430)

. Fugoda

early . Waseda 6 Kasugacho

. Omotedate
Ashino

. Choshichiyachi III

. Omotedate XIII

. Omotedate XII

. Omotedate X
6,380±130

Earliest
Jomon late /
cord-marked . Omotedate IX

. Waseda 5
6,570±280 (Gak-7335)

. Akamido
Waseda 4
7,110±120 (N-2330)
7,180±150

. Omotedate VI

line-marked . Mushiri I
Waseda 3

middle /
shell-marked . Fukkirizawa
Waseda 1-2 Sumiyoshicho Lower
7,705 (ave. N=6)
(range 7,510-7,910)

. Hotaruzawa A II

. Monomidai
Chitose
8,600±180 Monomidai
8,190±130 (N-2507)
8,030±105 (N-2508)
8,250±115 (N-2509)

. Teranosawa

. Neinuma

Daidera
Tokiyo Shirahama
Kominatotai
8,800±180

early /
rouletted . Hibakari

. +

Plain Usude Mumon +

Incipient
Jomon heavy-
cord-marked
cf. Muroya Ichinosawa III
Hinata III, IV Kushibiki

Nail-
impressed Ichinosawa II
Hinata II Kamotaira 2

Linear-
relief Ichinosawa I
Hinata I Omotedate 1
Hatchazawa 1

Plain Ushirono Odaiyamamoto I
13,150 (ave. N=6) [Table 2]
Chojakubo
below Hachinohe Pumice
ca. 12,500-12,600 Higashi Rokugo 2
12,000±600 (OB-¹⁴C)
13,500±700 (OB-¹⁴C)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Keally, Charles T., and Muto Yasuhiro. 1982. Jomon Jidai no Nendai (Dating of the Jomon Period). In Kato Shimpei, Kobayashi Tatsuo, and Fujimoto Tsuyoshi, eds. Jomon Bunka no Kenkyu (Studies of the Jomon Culture), Vol. 1, Jomonjin to sono Kankyo (The Jomon People and Their Environment). Tokyo: Yuzankaku, pp. 246-275.
Kidder, J. Edward, Jr. 1968. Prehistoric Japanese Arts: Jomon Pottery. Tokyo: Kodansha International.
Kobayashi, Tatsuo, and Ogawa Nakahiro (eds.). 1989. Jomon Doki Daikan (Jomon Pottery), Vol. 1, Sosoki, Soki, Zenki (Incipient, Earliest, Early). Tokyo: Shogakukan.
Kokankyou Kenkyujo. 2000. Tobirakawa Iseki Shutsudo Shiryo no Hoshasei Tanso Nendai Sokutei (Radio Carbon Age Measurements of Materials from the Tobirakawa Site). In: Akita-ken Maizo Bunkazai Senta (eds). Tobirakawa Iseki (The Tobirakawa Site). Senboku-machi, Akita Pref.: Akita-ken Maizo Bunkazai Senta, pp. 212-213.
Odai Yamamoto I Iseki Hakkutsu Chosadan (eds.). 1999. Odai Yamamoto I Iseki no Kokogaku Chosa (Archaeological Research at the Odai Yamamoto I Site). Tokyo: Kokugakuin University, Odai Yamamoto I Iseki Hakkutsu Chosadan.
Okawa, Kiyoshi, Suzuki Kimio, & Kura Zentsu(?) (eds.). 1996. Nihon Doki Jiten (A Dictionary of Japanese Pottery). Tokyo: Yuzankaku.

TABLES OF DATES SHOWN AS AVERAGES ABOVE

Table 1: Tobirakawa Site, Akita Pref.

pottery type	radiocarbon age	laboratory	material	half-life
Obora C1	2,880±60	(not given)	wood or charcoal	5,568 years
	2,900±90
	2,850±70
	2,780±80
	2,800±80
	2,920±90
	2,900±60
	2,910±90
	2,910±70
	2,900±80
	2,880±80
	2,890±90
	2,850±60
	2,870±90
	2,790±80
	2,900±80
	2,790±90
	2,880±60
	2,9820±90
	2,880±70
unknown	4,540±70	(not given)	charcoal
(Kokankyo Kenkyujo 2000, p. 213)

Table 2: Odai Yamamoto I Site, Aomori Pref.

pottery type	radiocarbon age	laboratory	material	half-life
Plain	12,680±140	NUTA-6506	charred adhesion	5,568 years
	12,720±160	NUTA-6509
	13,030±170	NUTA-6507
	13,210±160	NUTA-6515
	13,780±170	NUTA-6510
	13,480±70	Beta-125550	charred conifer wood
(Odai Yamamoto I Iseki Hakkutsu Chosadan, 1999, pp. 110 & 136)

Table x: template example

pottery type	radiocarbon age	laboratory	material	half-life
Obora C1	2,880±60	(not given)	wood or charcoal	5,568 years
(Kokankyo Kenkyujo, 2000, p. 213)

Period / Subperiod	Sub- subperiod	Phase / Pottery Type
Period / Subperiod	Sub- subperiod	Southern Tohoku	Northern Tohoku	Hokkaido
Late Yayoi		Tennoyama	Chokaisan Chitose	Ebetsu Kohoku B, C
Late Yayoi		.	Oishitai 2	Ebetsu Kohoku B, C
Middle Yayoi		.	Nembutsuma Jusanzuka Yasakatai	Esan IV
		.	Inakadate 2, 3 2,080±110	Esan III
		.	Utetsu II Isawa Inakadate 1 Omotedate	Esan II
Early Yayoi		.	Gosho Nimaibashi Oishitai 1 Seno	Esan I
Early Yayoi		.	Sunasawa	Obora A, A'
Latest Jomon	late	Obora A'	Makino Obora A' Ken'yoshi
	late	Obora A	Obora A Kuzusawa
	middle	Obora C2 2,708 (ave. N=4)	Obora C2 Imatsu	Obora C2
	middle	Obora C1	Obora C1 2,865 (ave. N=20) [Table 1] (range 2,780-2,920) Imatsu	Obora C1
	early	Obora BC	Obora BC Korekawa	Obora BC
	early	Obora B	Obora B Tokoshinai VI 2,820±130 (N-110)	Obora B
Late Jomon	end	Nishinohama	Tokoshinai V	Gotenyama
	late	.	Tokoshinai IV	Tobayashi
		.	Tokoshinai III	Tobayashi
		Miyato 2	Tokoshinai II Oyu 3,680±130 (N-114) 3,330±110	Teine
	early	Miyato 1	Tokoshinai I 3,490±95	Irie
		.	Iyasakatai	Irie
		.	Okizuke
		Monzen	Ushigasawa Omagari I	Yoichi
Middle Jomon	end	Daigi 10	Daigi 10
	end	.	Saibana Nakanotai III 3,670±120
	late	Daigi 9	Nakanotai II
		Daigi 8b	Enokibayashi	Enokibayashi 4,190±190 (Gak-5224)
		.	Nakanotai I
	Ento Upper series	Daigi 8a	Ento Upper e
		.	Ento Upper d
		Daigi 7b	Ento Upper c 4,580±300	Ento Upper b, c 4,660±100 (Gak-5493) 5,230±170 (Gak-5494) 5,350±110 (Gak-5497)
		Daigi 7a	Ento Upper b
		Nukazuka	Ento Upper a	Ento Upper a
Early Jomon	middle / Ento Lower series	Daigi 5-6 4,880±120 (TH-265) 4,440±120 (TH-305b)	Ento Lower d2 Ishigami	Ento Lower d 5,440±105 (Gak-5492)
		Daigi 3-4 4,820 (ave. N=6) (range 4,710-4,990)	Ento Lower d1 Ishigami	Ento Lower d 5,440±105 (Gak-5492)
		Daigi 2b	Ento Lower c 4,930±90 (N-3914) 4,790±100 (N-3916) 4,850±90 (N-3915)	Ento Lower c
		Daigi 2a	Ento Lower b2 4,870±130 (N-242)	Ento Lower b 4,900±95 (N-2504)
		.	Ento Lower b1	Ento Lower b 4,900±95 (N-2504)
		Daigi 1	Ento Lower a1, a2 5,300±330 Sannai Maruyama layer VIa 4,732±83 (NUTA-5374) 4,779±87 (NUTA-5366) 4,781±92 (NUTA-5376) 4,842±86 (NUTA-5375) 5,145±90 (NUTA-5368) Sannai Maruyama layer VIb 4,970±119 (NUTA-5348) 5,005±88 (NUTA-5347) 5,077±84 (NUTA-5369) 5,103±87 (NUTA-5373) 5,108±106 (NUTA-5346)	Ento Lower a 5,003 (ave. N=7) (ave. 4,710-5,430)
		.	Fugoda
	early	.	Waseda 6	Kasugacho
		.	Omotedate Ashino
		.	Choshichiyachi III
		.	Omotedate XIII
		.	Omotedate XII
		.	Omotedate X 6,380±130
Earliest Jomon	late / cord-marked	.	Omotedate IX
		.	Waseda 5 6,570±280 (Gak-7335)
		.	Akamido Waseda 4 7,110±120 (N-2330) 7,180±150
		.	Omotedate VI
	line-marked	.	Mushiri I Waseda 3
	middle / shell-marked	.	Fukkirizawa Waseda 1-2	Sumiyoshicho Lower 7,705 (ave. N=6) (range 7,510-7,910)
		.	Hotaruzawa A II
		.	Monomidai Chitose 8,600±180	Monomidai 8,190±130 (N-2507) 8,030±105 (N-2508) 8,250±115 (N-2509)
		.	Teranosawa
		.	Neinuma
		Daidera Tokiyo	Shirahama Kominatotai 8,800±180
	early / rouletted	.	Hibakari
	early / rouletted	.	+
	Plain	Usude Mumon	+
Incipient Jomon	heavy- cord-marked cf. Muroya	Ichinosawa III Hinata III, IV	Kushibiki
	Nail- impressed	Ichinosawa II Hinata II	Kamotaira 2
	Linear- relief	Ichinosawa I Hinata I	Omotedate 1 Hatchazawa 1
	Plain	Ushirono	Odaiyamamoto I 13,150 (ave. N=6) [Table 2] Chojakubo below Hachinohe Pumice ca. 12,500-12,600	Higashi Rokugo 2 12,000±600 (OB-¹⁴C) 13,500±700 (OB-¹⁴C)