Jomon Dates

Japaneses Archaeology

last revised:
December 29, 2006

Jomon Dates

by Charles T. Keally

All dates are years B.P.
Radiocarbon dates are not calibrated, unless otherwise noted.
The dates given are often only the range of the few dates available, not fully accurate dates for the period range.
Based on Keally & Muto 1982, unless otherwise cited.

Hokkaido

Period Radiocarbon Fission-Track Thermoluminescence
(Yorikura Rockshelter) Obsidian Hydration

Incipient

Earliest 8,300-6,100 6,300-5,700 c. 9,000
(c. 7,550) 9,200-6,900

Early 6,100-4,800 c. 5,000 6,300-5,800
(6,200-4,800) 7,400-5,200

Middle 5,100-4,050 c. 4,500
(4,800-4,000) 4,600-3,100

Late 4,050-3,000 3,400-3,000 (4,000-2,900)

Latest 3,000-2,400 c. 3,000
(2,900-2,200) 2,700-1,500

12,000±600
13,500±700 OB-¹⁴C dates for Incipient Jomon plain pottery associated with lithics of the Chojakubo Culture, similar to Odai Yamamoto I in Tohoku (Kondo 1987, p. 109).

8,700-7,600 15 AMS radiocarbon dates for early Earliest Jomon pottery -- Akatsuki & Sumiyoshi-cho Lower types -- from Hokkaido (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000).

Hokkaido
Period	Radiocarbon	Fission-Track	Thermoluminescence (Yorikura Rockshelter)	Obsidian Hydration
Incipient
Earliest	8,300-6,100	6,300-5,700	c. 9,000 (c. 7,550)	9,200-6,900
Early	6,100-4,800	c. 5,000	6,300-5,800 (6,200-4,800)	7,400-5,200
Middle	5,100-4,050		c. 4,500 (4,800-4,000)	4,600-3,100
Late	4,050-3,000	3,400-3,000	(4,000-2,900)
Latest	3,000-2,400		c. 3,000 (2,900-2,200)	2,700-1,500
	12,000±600 13,500±700	OB-¹⁴C dates for Incipient Jomon plain pottery associated with lithics of the Chojakubo Culture, similar to Odai Yamamoto I in Tohoku (Kondo 1987, p. 109).
	8,700-7,600	15 AMS radiocarbon dates for early Earliest Jomon pottery -- Akatsuki & Sumiyoshi-cho Lower types -- from Hokkaido (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000).

Tohoku

Period Radiocarbon Fission-Track Thermoluminescence Obsidian Hydration

Incipient >13,000-8,500(*)

Earliest 8,500-6,000

Early 6,000-4,600

Middle 4,600-4,000

Late 4,000-3,250

Latest 3,250-2,250

13,480-12,680 5 AMS radiocarbon dates for early Incipient Jomon plain pottery at the Odai Yamamoto I site, Aomori Prefecture (Odai Yamamoto I 1999).
(16,140-14,920 cal. B.P.)
NOTE: the plain pottery from the Odai Yamamoto I site has long been known to pre-date the Hachinohe Pumice, which has 15 radiocarbon dates placing it between about 12,500 and 13,000 years ago.

5,050-4,570 14 AMS radiocarbon dates for Early Jomon pottery from the Sannai Maruyama site, Aomori Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000).
(5,800-5,295 cal. B.P.)

4,470-3,880 12 AMS radiocarbon dates for Middle Jomon pottery from the Sannai Maruyama site, Aomori Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000).
(5,045-4,285 cal. B.P.)

(*) See the separate chronology chart for Aomori Prefecture

Tohoku
Period	Radiocarbon	Fission-Track	Thermoluminescence	Obsidian Hydration
Incipient	>13,000-8,500(*)
Earliest	8,500-6,000
Early	6,000-4,600
Middle	4,600-4,000
Late	4,000-3,250
Latest	3,250-2,250
	13,480-12,680	5 AMS radiocarbon dates for early Incipient Jomon plain pottery at the Odai Yamamoto I site, Aomori Prefecture (Odai Yamamoto I 1999). (16,140-14,920 cal. B.P.) NOTE: the plain pottery from the Odai Yamamoto I site has long been known to pre-date the Hachinohe Pumice, which has 15 radiocarbon dates placing it between about 12,500 and 13,000 years ago.
	5,050-4,570	14 AMS radiocarbon dates for Early Jomon pottery from the Sannai Maruyama site, Aomori Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000). (5,800-5,295 cal. B.P.)
	4,470-3,880	12 AMS radiocarbon dates for Middle Jomon pottery from the Sannai Maruyama site, Aomori Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000). (5,045-4,285 cal. B.P.)
	(*) See the separate chronology chart for Aomori Prefecture

Kanto

Period Radiocarbon Fission-Track Thermoluminescence Obsidian Hydration

Incipient

Earliest 9,500-6,100 >7,000 9,000-6,900 9,400-7,000

Early 6,100-4,700 7,000-5,400 7,000-5,700

Middle 4,800-4,050 5,400-4,400 5,700-4,300

Late 4,050-3,050 <4,400 4,300-3,600

Latest 3,050-2,100 3,600-2,500

ca. 13,000-12,000 estimated from 8 thermoluminescence dates for plain pottery from the beginning of Incipient Jomon at the Fukami Suwayama and Kamino sites (Ichikawa 1987, p. 19).

4,700-3,950 140 AMS radiocarbon dates for Middle Jomon in the Kanto area (Imamura et al. 2002).
(5,450-4,420 cal B.P)

3,050-3,200 108 AMS radiocarbon dates for Late Jomon in the Kanto area (Kobayashi 2006).
(4,520-3,220 cal B.P)

(*) See the separate chronology chart for Kanto Middle Jomon

Kanto
Period	Radiocarbon	Fission-Track	Thermoluminescence	Obsidian Hydration
Incipient
Earliest	9,500-6,100	>7,000	9,000-6,900	9,400-7,000
Early	6,100-4,700	7,000-5,400		7,000-5,700
Middle	4,800-4,050	5,400-4,400		5,700-4,300
Late	4,050-3,050	<4,400		4,300-3,600
Latest	3,050-2,100			3,600-2,500
	ca. 13,000-12,000	estimated from 8 thermoluminescence dates for plain pottery from the beginning of Incipient Jomon at the Fukami Suwayama and Kamino sites (Ichikawa 1987, p. 19).
	4,700-3,950	140 AMS radiocarbon dates for Middle Jomon in the Kanto area (Imamura et al. 2002). (5,450-4,420 cal B.P)
	3,050-3,200	108 AMS radiocarbon dates for Late Jomon in the Kanto area (Kobayashi 2006). (4,520-3,220 cal B.P)
	(*) See the separate chronology chart for Kanto Middle Jomon

Chubu, Western Honshu, Shikoku

Period Radiocarbon Fission-Track Thermoluminescence Obsidian Hydration

Incipient 12,100-10,000

Earliest c. 8,650-8,300 c. 7,500

Early c. 5,400
4,800 6,100-4,500

Middle 5,200-4,100
4,500-4,100 4,700-4,100 5,500-4,700

Late 3,100-2,600 4,300-2,700 4,100-3,500

Latest 2,500-2,100 c. 3,400

6,170-5,440 13 radiocarbon dates for Early Jomon at the Torihama Shellmound site, Fukui Prefecture.

4,650-4,140 11 AMS radiocarbon dates for Middle Jomon pottery from Nagano Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000).
(5,320-4,750 cal. B.P.)

4,370-3,140 13 Beta radiocarbon dates for Late Jomon pottery from Nagano Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000).

Chubu, Western Honshu, Shikoku
Period	Radiocarbon	Fission-Track	Thermoluminescence	Obsidian Hydration
Incipient	12,100-10,000
Earliest	c. 8,650-8,300		c. 7,500
Early	c. 5,400 4,800		6,100-4,500
Middle	5,200-4,100 4,500-4,100		4,700-4,100	5,500-4,700
Late	3,100-2,600		4,300-2,700	4,100-3,500
Latest			2,500-2,100	c. 3,400
	6,170-5,440	13 radiocarbon dates for Early Jomon at the Torihama Shellmound site, Fukui Prefecture.
	4,650-4,140	11 AMS radiocarbon dates for Middle Jomon pottery from Nagano Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000). (5,320-4,750 cal. B.P.)
	4,370-3,140	13 Beta radiocarbon dates for Late Jomon pottery from Nagano Prefecture (Japan Association for Quaternary Research 2000).

Ishikawa Prefecture (Oda & Yamamoto 2001)

Period Radiocarbon Calibrated BC Calibrated Years No. of Samples

Incipient

Earliest

Early 6,200-4,600 5200-3400 BC 7,200-5,400 4

Middle 4,600-3,900 3400-2400 BC 5,400-4,400 4

Late 3,900-2,800 2400-1000 BC 4,400-3,000 12

Latest 2,800-2,500 1000-700 BC 3,000-2,700 9

Ishikawa Prefecture (Oda & Yamamoto 2001)
Period	Radiocarbon	Calibrated BC	Calibrated Years	No. of Samples
Incipient
Earliest
Early	6,200-4,600	5200-3400 BC	7,200-5,400	4
Middle	4,600-3,900	3400-2400 BC	5,400-4,400	4
Late	3,900-2,800	2400-1000 BC	4,400-3,000	12
Latest	2,800-2,500	1000-700 BC	3,000-2,700	9

Kyushu

Period Radiocarbon Fission-Track Thermoluminescence Obsidian Hydration

Incipient 12,800-10,500 10,800-9,800 c. 12,000

Earliest 10,500-6,900

Early 6,900-4,500

Middle 4,500-3,500

Late 3,500-2,700

Latest 2,700-2,550

Kyushu
Period	Radiocarbon	Fission-Track	Thermoluminescence	Obsidian Hydration
Incipient	12,800-10,500	10,800-9,800	c. 12,000
Earliest	10,500-6,900
Early	6,900-4,500
Middle	4,500-3,500
Late	3,500-2,700
Latest	2,700-2,550

Works Cited

Ichikawa, Yoneta. (1987). Doki, Yakereki no Netsuruminessensu-ho ni yoru Nendai Sokutei (Thermoluminescence Dating of Pottery and Burnt Pebbles). In: Soda Kaoru, ed., Tsukimino Iseki-gun Kamino Iseki Dai-1 Chiten (Kamino Site Location 1 in the Tsukimino Site Group). Yamato-shi Kyoiku Iinkai, pp. 17-20.
Imamura, Kobayashi, Nishimoto & Sakamoto. (2002). AMS ¹⁴C Nendai o Riyo shita Higashi Nihon Jomon Zenki-Koki Doki, Shuraku no Kenkyu (Study of Early-to-Late Jomon Pottery and Settlements in Eastern Japan, Using AMS ¹⁴C Dating). Resumes of Papers Presented to the 19th Annual Spring Meeting of the Japanese Society for Science in Cultural Properties, pp. 100-101.
Japan Association for Quaternary Research. (2000). Nihon Senshi Jidai no ¹⁴C Nendai (¹⁴C Ages of the Japanese Prehistory). Japan Association for Quaternary Research.
Keally, C. T., & Muto Yasuhiro. (1982). Jomon Jidai no Nendai (Dating of the Jomon Period). In: Kato Shinpei, Kobayashi Tatsuo & Fujimoto Tsuyoshi, eds., Jomon Bunka no Kenkyu, I, Jomonjin to Sono Kankyo (Research in Jomon Culture, vol. I, The Jomon People and Their Environment). Tokyo: Yuzankaku, pp. 246-275.
Kobayashi, Kenichi. (2006). Kanto Chiho Jomon Jidai Koki no Jitsunendai (Study on Jomon Chronology of Late Stage by Comparison of Multiple AMS Radiocarbon Dates with Pottery-Type Series: A Case Study of Kanto Region, Japan). Kokogaku to Shizen Kagaku (Archaeology and Natural Science), 54: 13-33.
Kondo, Yuko. (1987). Kokuyosekisei Sekki no Suiwaso Nendai (Obsidian Hydration Dates for Obsidian Tools). In: Sugiura Shigenobu, ed., Higashi Rokugo 1, 2 Iseki (The Higashi Rokugo 1 and 2 Sites). Hokkaido, Furano-shi Kyoiku Iinkai, p. 109.
Oda, Hirotaka, and Yamamoto Naoto. (2001). Jomon Doki no AMS ¹⁴C Nendai to Kosei Nendai -- Ishikawa-ken no Jomon Zenki~Banki o Chushin ni (AMS Radiocarbon Ages and the Calibrated Ages of Jomon Pottery: from Early to Final Stages of the Jomon Period in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan). Kokogaku to Shizen Kagaku (Archaeology and Natural Science), 42: 1-13.
Odai Yamamoto I Site Excavation Team (eds.). (1999). Archaeological Research at the Odai Yamamoto I Site. Tokyo: Odai Yamamoto I Site Excavation Team, Kokugakuin University.