Okinawa Prefecture
Gusikawa Island, Izena
Gusikawa Island in the Izena Islands, a small island group NW of Okinawa main island, was occupied by at least 3,000 years ago. See human burial remains with shell bracelets at Izena Friendship Museum of Folklore. Access: 196-129 Izena, Izena-son, Okinawa 905-0604. Tel. 0980 45-2165.
Urasoe Shell Mound
Ruins from about 3,000 years BP, located above Iso Tunnel on Route 330, in Urasoe City, southwestern Okinawa (main island). Pottery at this site indicated exchange between Ryukyu Islands and Kyushu.
Aspects of archaeology in Okinawa
A research biography for Asato Shijun, provided by the Okinawa Prefectural Buried Cultural Center.
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
The layout of this site, and all texts by P. J. Matthews (PJM), are copyright of The Research Cooperative 2001-4 (all rights reserved). The copyright for original contributions (photos and texts) by other contributors (individuals or organisations) is retained by each contributor concerned. All material presented here may be copied for personal use and reference, and for teaching purposes.
OKINAWA PREFECTURE
Within the prefecture (Okinawa-ken) there are three island groups from North to South: Okinawa, Miyako, and Yaeyama. The main islands in each of these are listed here.
Okinawa: Iheya-jima, Izena-jima, Okinawa, Ie-shima, Aguni-shima, Tanaki-shima, Zamami-jima, Takashi-ki-jima, Kume-jima.
Miyako: Miyako-jima, Shimoji-jima.
Yaeyama: Tarama-shima, Ishigaki-jima, Taketomi-jima, Kuro-shima, Kohama-jima, Iriomote-jima, Hateruma-jima, Yonaguni-jima.
Okinawa Prefectural Museum
Permanent exhibits include a display of Jomon-period materials (tools and pottery). Largest museum in Okinawa. Access: 1-1, Onaka-cho, Shuri, Naha, Okinawa 903-0823, Japan. Tel (098) 886-4353, fax (098) 886-4353, e-mail oki-muse@nirai.ne.jp
Okinawa Municipal Local Museum
Shows history of Okinawa City since the Shellmound Age (Kaizuka Jidai). Displays include an array of ancient pottery. Access: 235-3 Uechi, Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan 904-0031. Tel. 098 932-6882. Two mins walk from Sonoda bus stop.
Research Center
Okinawa Prefectural Archaeological Center No details in English available, but may be a good source of information about archaeology in Okinawa (PJM 20.12.03)
