Ibaraki Prefecture
Aso-Horinouchi Shellmound
Final Jomon to Middle Jomon periods (5000-2500yrs BP). Size and good preservation make this shellmound is one of the most important archeological sites in the region.
Access: Aso-machi, Ibaraki Prefecture, about 70 km northeast from Tokyo.
Location is on highest terrace that faced seashore on the northeast side of what was a bay at Kinu. Site is now about 35 m above present sea leavel, and 1.5 km from shore of the present Kasumigaura Lake. Lake itself is subject of local conservation efforts. Map location is shown in a detailed online report by Yoshino et al.
Hirohata Shellmound
Final Jomon to Late Jomon periods, located on an alluvial terrace next to Kasumigaura Lake. An important site in the history of Japanese archaeology, a subject of study for more than 100 years (KONDO Yoshiro especially). Evidence of salt making in the Jomon period has been found here. Online report by TSUNEMATSU Shigeto is intended to discourage future site destruction by land developers. Access: Sakuragawa-mura (village website, J only). Village office: 208 Sukazu, Sakuragawa-mura 300-06. Tel. 0298 94-2121 (ask for information about local museums or site access points, if any).
Okadaira Shell Midden
The Kasumigaura River Office has a brief but excellent summary of archaeology around the coastal inlet stretching from Tsuchiura City to the Pacific Ocean. Other sites noted here: Kamitakatsu, Kidamaridai. Click on the timeline to observe changes in the coastline and human occupation as the sea level changed.
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Source and copyright: Kasumigaura River Office, Ibaraki |