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A Morphological Study of the Adult Jar Coffins of the Yayoi Period

Research Project

Project/Area Number 15520479
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Archaeology
Research InstitutionKYUSHU UNIVERSITY

Principal Investigator

MIZOGUCHI Koji  Kyushu University, Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Associate Professor, 大学院・比較社会文化研究院, 助教授 (80264109)

Project Period (FY) 2003 – 2004
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2004)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥1,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000)
KeywordsJar coffin / adult jar coffin / Yayoi period / Northern Kyushu / Japan / Archaeology / pottery / methodology / 形態分析 / 土器生産 / 生産組織 / 埋葬 / 地域性 / 北部九州地方
Research Abstract

This research aimed at investigating the nature and character of a category of archaeological artifacts. The jar coffins of the Yayoi period Northern Kyushu region of Japan were chosen as the material. The Yayoi period is widely accepted to have witnessed social stratification and a rapid increase of social complexity ignited by the systematic adoption of rice paddy field agriculture. The production of material items in the period is also inferred to have been semi- or fully-specialized from seemingly highly sophisticated outcomes typically seen in pottery products including the jar coffins. They are exceptionally large in size as earthen wares, and the potting techniques employed are seemingly standardized and sophisticated to the extent that some scholars conclude that they were manufactured by specialized potters/artisans. However, with some notable exceptions, it has to be noted that exactly how sophisticated and standardized the potting techniques employed were have not been subje … More cted to systematic scrutiny. The objective of this research was to fill this vacuum by investigating the morphological nature and character of the intra- and inter-site variability of the jar coffins of the Middle Yayoi period Northern Kyushu.
The notable outcomes arc as follows :
1 The intra-site variability can most significantly be observed in such attributes as 1)surface finishing technique, 2)the shape of the time, and 3)the shape of the clay band applied on the body. This suggests that a number of potters were involved in the production of the coffins which were morphologically broadly identical.
2 The inter-site variability shows that there existed a number of geographical clines which can be grasped as mutually-overlapping distribution areas of morphological sub-categories of the jar coffins.
3 These clines were changed through time in their spatial patternings.
4 1 and 2 above suggest that the production system of the jar coffins are identical to that of the contemporary pots for daily use.
5 3 above suggests that the system of information exchange concerning the production of the jar coffins and related matters such as the procedure of mortuary rituals changed through time.
6 By drawing upon these outcomes the research tentatively concluded that the production system of the jar coffins did not quite reach the degree of sophistication and standardization which can be characterized as "full craft specialization". Less

Report

(3 results)
  • 2004 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2003 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (3 results)

All 2005

All Journal Article (3 results)

  • [Journal Article] Genealogy in the ground : observations of jar burials of the Yayoi period Northern Kyushu, Japan2005

    • Author(s)
      Koji MIZOGUCHI
    • Journal Title

      Antiquity 79巻2号(6月1日発行)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Genealogy in the ground : observations of jar burials of the Yayoi period Northern Kyushu, Japan2005

    • Author(s)
      MIZOGUCHI, Koji
    • Journal Title

      Antiquity(due out 1 June) Vol.79-2

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Genealogy in the ground : observations of jar burials of the Yayoi period Northern Kyushu, Japan2005

    • Author(s)
      Koji MIZOGUCHI (溝口孝司)
    • Journal Title

      Antiquity 79・2(印刷中)

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2003-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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