Dig deep into Japan’s past at Ofune Jomon archaeological site

In 2021, UNESCO awarded Japan a new World Heritage Site, collectively known as the Jomon Prehistoric Sites of Northern Japan. The sites are located in 17 different locations across four prefectures and document the history and culture of Japan’s prehistoric era. The Jomon period began at the tail end of the last ice age. The ice and land bridges that once connected the Japanese archipelago to the Asian mainland disappeared, and Japan became the set of islands we know today.

The Jomon people lived in many places throughout Japan and shared a common lifestyle and culture. The Jomon period continued until around 300 BCE. Jomon culture developed several innovations, such as a more sedentary way of life, agriculture, pottery and more.

Ofune Jomon Site

A recreation of some of the houses at the time Image: PIXTA/ az

The Ofune Site is located on the outskirts of Hakodate and sits along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Based on archaeological research, the area appears to have been a residential space. Using evidence drawn from fieldwork, researchers recreated a number of buildings in their entirety and some in their skeletal form.

You’ll see foundations measuring as wide as ten meters long and two meters deep. More than 100 burials have been found at the site. Bones from land and sea animals and stone cooking tools can tell us much about how the Jomon lived on the Oshima Peninsula thousands of years ago. Twice a day, a Japanese-speaking tour guide is present on-site to provide additional information as you stroll through the area.

Hakodate Jomon Culture Center

Some of the artifacts you’ll see at the center Image: WikiCommons/ あずきごはん

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• External Link
• https://gaijinpot.com/