Numazu Shell Mound
沼津貝塚 | |
  Location in Japan  Numazu Shell Mound (Japan) | |
| Location | Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Tōhoku region |
| Coordinates | 38°26′44.9″N 141°22′39.5″E / 38.445806°N 141.377639°E |
| Altitude | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Type | shell midden |
| History | |
| Periods | early to late Jōmon |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | National Historic Site |
| Public access | Yes |
Numazu Shell Midden (沼津貝塚, Numazu Kaizuka) is a Jōmon period archaeological site consisting of a shell midden and the remains of an adjacent settlement located in what is now the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan.. It is protected by the central government as a National Historic Site.[1]
The rocky ria coast of Miyagi Prefecture was densely settled from the early through late Jōmon period, and the locations of such coastal settlements are often marked by shell middens containing shellfish, fish, animal and whale bones and human-produced artifacts, including earthenware shards, fishing hooks, etc.
The Numazu Shell Midden is located east of the modern city, near Mankoku Bay, at an elevation of approximately twenty-five meters from the present-day coastline. The midden is very large, extending for 220 meters east-west and 160 meters north-south, with a height of approximately 15 meters, indicating continuous usage over thousands of years. A preliminary survey was conducted intermittently from 1908 to 1929 by local authorities, during which time over 1200 artifacts such as bone fishhooks, harpoons and bone combs and ornaments, along with Jomon-period pottery and two terracotta animal figurines.These items are now stored at the Tohoku University. More comprehensive excavations were conducted in 1958, 1963 and 1967; however the site did not receive protection until it was designated as a national historic site in 1972.
See also
References
- ^ "沼津貝塚 ぬまづかいづか". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.