Tochigi Prefecture

Oyaji Temple

Early Jomon skeleton, prehistoric pottery, arrowheads and charred animal remains were found in a cave behind Oyaji Temple in Oya. See display in Treasure Hall of the temple, and report in The Japan Times, 1998.

 

Takaharayama

Early obsidian tools were carried from this mountain to the region of present-day Chiba: N. Watanabe (Asahi Shimbun, 13th April 2007) reports that archaeologists have found the geological source of obsidian stone tools that are typically found in Kanto loam layers dated to between 35,000 and 40,000 years ago. Each kind of obsidian, a volcanic glass, is chemically distinct. A natural source of obsidian was located on Takaharayama (Takahara Mountain) with similar stone tools nearby, and evidence of stone processing. The Yaita City Board of Education conducteed a full-scale excavation at the site in October, 2006.

 

More details and photos have been published by the Japanese Archaeological Association

CONTACT and COPYRIGHT

Dr Peter Matthews, National Museum of Ethnology, Senri Expo Park, Suita 565-8511, Japan. Tel. +81 (6) 6876-2151. Fax +81 (6) 6878-7503. Email: info (at-mark) researchco-op.co.nz

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