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Japan

Shimoyachi Site

Middle Yayoi period settlement with pit dwellings

Time Periods

Paleolithic

Paleolithic

Mesolithic

Mesolithic

Neolithic

Neolithic

Chalcolithic

Chalcolithic

Bronze Age

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Iron Age

Classical Period

Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Early Modern Period

Early Modern Period

Industrial Period

Industrial Period

Contemporary Period

Contemporary Period

About

The Shimoyachi Site is a nationally recognized archaeological site representing a middle Yayoi period settlement located in Kashiwazaki, Niigata, Japan. This site, dating back approximately 2000 years, features unique circular pit dwellings with central hearths and a variety of mounds used for burial and storage purposes. The settlement, surrounded by a drainage ditch, suggests a well-adapted community thriving in marshy lowlands. Excavations revealed a mass-production center for jadeite beads, indicating significant trade networks with regions like Shinano Province. Although no paddy fields were found, the presence of carbonized rice and harvesting tools points to rice cultivation in the area. The site holds substantial archaeological value for understanding the Yayoi period's socio-economic and cultural development.

Archaeological Features

Explore the unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

Storage Structures

Storage Pits

Defensive Structures

Ditches

Burial and Funerary Structures

GravesFunerary Mounds

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Pit HousesVillages

Food Production and Processing Features

Hearths

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's archaeological history

Plan Your Visit

Details

Country
Japan
Source
Wikipedia