Jomon culture (meaning “rope pattern” because the Jomon people specialized in making rope) originated in Japan approximately twelve thousands years ago and is divided into six stages. Eventually Jomon culture became the Yayoi culture twenty-three hundreds years ago. The Jomon people created a variety of artifacts over a time period representing several stages of development. Jomon earthenware is represented by a unique design and various ways in which the pottery was used. It was heavy to carry and easily broken,yet it functioned well for storage and food preparation. People started to become more sedentary as farming and gathering plants became an integral part of the culture. One hundred fifty-three Jomon cultural sites have been discovered containing artifacts characteristic of the development of the culture.

The oldest earthenware in the world was found in the Shikazegashira ruins in Japan. It is about twelve thousands years old and represents the earliest Jomon stage. The oldest pot retained its shape, enabling archeologists to make speculations about its function. The shape of the pot was a cut point cone with a diameter of about forty centimeters. Although there are more than one hundred Jomon sites, there are very few earthenware artifacts older than ten thousands years. Therefore, references are usually confined to the upper stages of development rather than the second or third stages. These discoveries reveal important information about the record of the Jomon material culture.

According to various references and pictures, the earthenware was very simple in shape between the first stage and third stages. The pots were usually cylindrical in shape with a rope pattern on the external surface. Twigs and shells were also used in making external decorative patterns on the pots. Pots with carbonized food inside have been found indicating they were used for boiling and steaming foods. The pots were also used for saving seeds and foods, as well as for human burials.

Pottery found from the forth stage is more elaborate than previous stages, with more complex rope patterns than those found on earlier artifacts. Animals of the time and imaginary creatures were drawn on the surfaces of the pots. These drawings are good indicators of the types of animals that existed and what kinds of animals were important to the people. For example, the snake was believed to be a god. Wild boar and bear were drawn on the surfaces of pots, both of these animals were important food sources for the people. The Jomon artifacts have stirred the interests of researchers since each design may have multiple meanings. These designs may have been based on real stories from the Jomon culture.

The pot is not likely an ancient pot because the elaborate rim is a novel and unconventional design. Many straight and curved lines as well as relief indicate the pot may have been an art object. The rim of this pot is especially distinctive among the Jomon earthenware as the shape displays a lively imagination. The rims of the pots sometimes display faces, possibly gods; Jomon people believed that faces could protect food in the pots. Pots were not only used for saving and cooking, but also for festivals and as cremation urns. Many pots have been discovered that contain seeds, ash, food, and accessories.

All of the earthenware has exquisite design and variety of shape with some pots exhibiting a glossy surface. The design of the pots became simpler during the fifth and sixth stages. The artifacts are sometimes in the form of a teapot, an incense burner, or a vessel. Sometimes it is difficult to determine the earthenware’s function because of very intricate shaping. Artifacts contained within the earthenware are key to determining the usage. For instance, accessories found within a pot might indicate it was used as a jewelry box or gift box.

Few sites or artifacts from earlier stages have been discovered. However, the earthenware found from the early stages indicates the age, region, and cultural significance of the pottery. Earthenware from the first three stages (12000~5000 years ago) was only used for storage and cooking food or possibly burying something under the ground. However, once the pottery progressed in form and design, it took on an artistic quality. The forth stage exhibits great progress in design and form, while the fifth and sixth stages (5000~2300 years ago) show even more progress in technique. The Jomon culture lasted for many years and produced many artifacts of striking and original work. Moreover, those were the first and last pure Japanese artifacts due to emigration from China to Japan and the beginning of Yayoi culture.

References:

“Tokyo University Digital Museum” Tokyo University Digital Museum (29 February 2000) http://www.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/dm2k-umdb/contents.html 24 March 2000.

“Idojiri” Idojiri Archaeological Museum. http://www.alles.or.jp/~fujimi/idojiri.html 24 March 2000.

“Komaki Iseki Monogatari “ (16 January 2000) http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand/4689/ 18 March 2000.

“Sakiyama Kaizuka” http://www.rnac.ne.jp/~sakiyama/jomon/index.htm 24 March 2000.

“Jomon network” http://www.wnn.or.jp/wnn-history/index.html, 24 March 2000.

Written by Rie Yamada