The Art of Japanese Architecture. David Young
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that the Ainu, currently found only in Hokkaido and Sakhalin, may be descendants of a northern branch of the Jōmon people that escaped physical and cultural blending with the Yayoi people. Their origins remain controversial.
The increased prosperity brought by the new way of life, with its intensive wet rice agriculture, created distinctions in wealth and an incipient class structure. An increase in population and social stratification eventually led to over 100 small states under the control of a variety of clans known as uji. The clan chief was both the secular and religious leader.
Tomb Mound Period (300–710 CE)
By 300 CE, one or more of the Yayoi uji appears to have gained some preeminence over the other clans, giving rise to a succession of imperial dynasties that culminated in the Yamato State of the mid-sixth century. The Yamato State, based in the area around the current cities of Nara, Kyoto, and Osaka (the Kinki area), controlled a large area, stretching from Kyushu in the west to the Kanto area in the east. The present imperial family of Japan, said to be the longest lived royal dynasty in the world, is believed to be descended from the ruling family of the Yamato State.
The Tomb Mound Period, which derives its name from the common practice of burying royalty and high-ranking clan officials in stone tombs covered with large earthen mounds, lasted from around 300 CE or a little earlier until 710. It thus overlaps with the coming of Buddhism in the middle of the sixth century. Buddhism, which was brought from China and Korea, introduced the advanced civilization of the continent, thereby bringing the prehistoric era to an end. Tomb mounds, however, continued to be built for another 200 years or so.
PIT DWELLINGS
A pit dwelling was constructed by digging a hole about a meter (3 feet) deep and leaning poles against a rectangular framework to create sides. Thatch was tied to the reinforced sides, leaving openings at the top for smoke to escape.
Reconstructed Jōmon and Yayoi Settlements
Reconstructing the past is popular in Japan. The Japanese are intensely interested in their origins and are willing to travel to out-of-the way places to visit archaeological sites. Various levels of government have responded by investing heavily in reconstructing buildings and other architectural features at prehistoric sites, the most important of which are designated as National Historic Remains.
Sannai Maruyama Iseki
Sannai Maruyama Iseki in Aomori Prefecture (iseki means “remains”) is the site of a Jōmon village that existed for around 1,500 years, from 3500 to 2000 BCE. Sannai Maruyama was situated on high ground overlooking Aomori Bay on the north. A road connected the center of the village and the eastern end of the high ground, with graves on both sides. In the center of the ceremonial space were a large pit dwelling, some smaller pit structures, and what may have been a large lookout tower, described below. So far, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of 800 pit dwellings, 120 post-and-beam structures (such as elevated storage buildings and observation towers), and over 10,000 holes, whose use is uncertain.
Though intact timbers no longer remain, a good deal can be inferred from excavated post holes. For example, excavated post holes indicate the circumference and height of the trees used. In one excava-tion, the bottoms of the holes slope in such a way that the poles must have leaned toward each other. Poles sloping in this way would have been unstable unless connected by a raised platform, and possi-bly a roof. It is inferred that this structure may have been used as a lookout tower. Remains of wood found in the holes are from large chestnut trees, probably raised for the nuts.
Exterior and interior of the large pit structure used for gatherings at the Fudōdō Iseki Jōmon site.
Smoke hole in the roof of the Fudōdō Iseki pit structure.
The findings at Sannai Maruyama have forced scholars to change their ideas about Jōmon communities. Contrary to earlier beliefs that Jōmon people had a primitive lifestyle based upon hunting wild animals, the residents of Sannai Maruyama settled in one place for an extended period of time, cultivated some food such as chestnuts, imported goods by boat from different parts of Japan, buried their dead, and lived at peace with their neighbors. So far, reconstruction has been completed on one large and five small pit dwellings, three raised floor structures, and one large structure consisting of posts sunk in the ground (perhaps used as a lookout), which may have had a roof. A committee of experts from the fields of architecture, archaeology, and ethnology are continuing research on how to proceed with reconstruction.
Fudōdō Iseki
Situated at the northeastern corner of Toyama Prefecture, the Fudōdō Iseki site dates from around 3000 BCE. Excavations started in 1973 and so far have uncovered nineteen house sites, nine deep holes which seem to have been used for storing food, and numerous earthen and stoneware vessels. Especially notable is the evidence of a huge oval-shaped pit building, measuring 8 by 17 meters (26 by 56 feet), in the middle of the settlement. Because this is four to five times larger than an average house site, and has four sets of stone structures for cooking, it is believed that this building was used for gatherings. This meeting hall and two other buildings have been reconstructed so far.
Yoshinogari Iseki
Yoshinogari Iseki, in Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, is situated on a low hill bordered by a river on two sides. Excavations, begun in 1986, have uncovered habitation sites spanning the entire Yayoi Period (300 BCE–300 CE). By the latter part of the mid-Yayoi Period, a large-scale settlement guarded by surrounding moats was in place. Excavations have uncovered numerous skeletons buried in ceramic urns and a rich material culture, including bronze implements and glass beads. Both skeletons and material remains indicate a Korean origin.
By the late Yayoi Period, Yoshinogari possessed two smaller areas within the larger area, marked off by inner moats and fences. The most important buildings were located in these smaller areas, one on the south and one on the north. In 1986, two watchtowers and three pit houses were reconstructed in the south fenced area, as well as two raised storage buildings to the west of this fenced area.
Reconstruction of the north fenced area has been under way since 1999. This area, which contains several buildings, was probably the compound of a chief. It includes a pit house and several raised structures, one of which is a large building believed to be an early shrine. The other raised buildings include what appear to be lookout towers, storehouses, and a structure that the chief may have used for residential, political, religious, and ceremonial functions—an early form of a palace. It would have been difficult, however, to construct a fire pit in a raised structure, so cooking was probably confined to the pit house. In later times, new methods of containing fire allowed cooking to be done in raised buildings.
In recognition of the fact that it was the largest Yayoi settlement surrounded by moats and that it probably developed into a key component of the emerging Yamato State, Yoshinogari Iseki has been designated as a Special National Historic Remain.
Ikegami-sone Iseki
This Yayoi site, in Osaka Prefecture, is located on a low hill surrounded by a moat, with rivers (that no longer exist) to the east and west. As at Yoshinogari, there is a smaller enclosed area that seems to have been set aside for the chief, as well as factory areas for making stone tools and other products.
A large-scale excavation was done in 1969–71, leading to the designation, in 1976, of Ikegami-sone Iseki as a National Historic Remain. In 1994, archaeologists discovered the remains of a large building with a floor area of 130 square meters (323 square feet). A distinguishing