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Morphological and genetic studies on human skeletal remains of the Nansei islands

Research Project

Project/Area Number 07304058
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section総合
Research Field 人類学(含生理人類学)
Research InstitutionUniversity of the Ryukyus

Principal Investigator

DOI Naomi  Univ. Ryukyus Sch. Med. Associate Prof., 医学部, 助教授 (30128053)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) MINE Kazuharu  Kagoshima Univ. Sch. Dent. Assistant, 歯学部, 助手 (50209839)
TAKAMIYA Hiroto  Sapporo Univ. Woman's Junior college Lecturer, 女子短期大学部, 講師 (40258752)
HORAI Satosi  Nat. Inst. Genetics Dep. Hum. Genet. Associate Prof., 総合遺伝研究系, 助教授 (40126157)
DODO Yukio  Tohoku Univ. Sch. Med. Professor, 医学部, 教授 (50000146)
HIRATA Yukio  Univ. Ryukyus Sch. Med. Professor, 医学部, 教授 (70073070)
Project Period (FY) 1995 – 1996
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1996)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000)
Fiscal Year 1996: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1995: ¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000)
Keywordsskeletal morphology / mtDNA / adaptation / origin of the Japanese / the Nansei islands / ヒトの適応
Research Abstract

We could integrate our findings obtained from morphological, genetic and ecological studies about the Nansei islanders twice (1st at Chiba and 2nd at Okinawa). In addition, Doi and Mine collected skeletal samples from the Amami and Okinawa islands for mtDNA analysis. mtDNA analyzes of these skeletal samples are proceeding at National Institute of Genetics.
The results obtained up to the present were summarized as follows :
<Skeletal morphology>
1) The ancient Okinawans were revealed to share some skeletal features with the Tanegashima and Amami Yayoi peoples. They were characterized by small cranial size, hyperbrachycrany and shorter face.
2) Significant secular changes in skeletal morphology were found both in the Okinawa and Amami islands.
3) The modern Nansei islanders, generally considered to have close affinity to the Ainu, were revealed to have unique morphological characteristics. They were clearly discriminated from the Ainu by flat face.
<mtDNA>
The analyzes of mtDNA from five East Asian populations (mainland Japanese, Ainu, Okinawans, Koreans, and Chinese) lend support to the hybridization theory on the origin of modern Japanese. Furthermore, the Ainu and Okinawans, though they shared some genetic affinity with each other, were thought to have existed as different populations when the Yayoi migration began to take place.
<Prehistory>
The number of habitation sites in the Okinawa islands indicated that successful colonization of the island took place only during the later part of the Middle Jomon or the earlier part of the Late Jomon, but not prior to this time.

Report

(3 results)
  • 1996 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1995 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (10 results)

All Other

All Publications (10 results)

  • [Publications] HORAI,S.,et al.,: "mtDNA polymorphism in east Asian populations,with special reference to the peopling of Japan." Am.J.Hum.Genet.59. 579-590 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] TAKAMIYA Hiroto: "Initial colonization,and subsistence adaptation processes in the late prehistory of the island of Okinawa" Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Bulletin. 15. 143-150 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 百々 幸雄 編著: "モンゴロイドの地球" 東京大学出版会, 232 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 土肥直美(共著): "人間史をたどる" 朝倉書店, 218 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] HORAI,S., et al.: "mtDNA polymorphism in east Asian populations, with special reference to the peopling of Japan" Am. J.Hum. Genet.59. 579-590 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] TAKAMIYA,Hiroto: "Initial colonization, and subsistence adaptation processes in the late prehistory of the island of Okinawa" Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Bulletin. 15. 143-150 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1996 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] HORAI,S..et al.,: "mtDNA polimorphism in east Asian populations,with special reference to th peopling of Japan." Am.J.Genet. 59. 579-590 (1996)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Hiroto Takamiya: "Initial colonization,and subsistence adaptation processes in the late prehistory of the island of Okinawa" Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Bulletin. 15. 143-150 (1996)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 高宮広土(共著): "日本文化の深層と沖縄" 国際日本文化研究センター, 151 (1996)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 土肥直美(共著): "沖縄の歴史と医療史" 九州大学出版会(出版予定), (1997)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1995-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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