2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Reconstructing the life experiences through prehistoric to early modern Ryukyuans
| Project/Area Number |
14340274
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
人類学(含生理人類学)
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| Research Institution | University of the Ryukyus |
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Principal Investigator |
DOI Naomi University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Medicine, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (30128053)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
ISHIDA Hajime University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Medicine, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (70145225)
SENSUI Noburu University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Medicine, Instructor, 医学部, 助手 (80216556)
ZUKERAN Chosei University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Medicine, Instructor, 医学部, 助手 (70136901)
TAKAMIYA Hiroto Sapporo University, Faculty of Cultural Studies, Professor, 文化学部, 教授 (40258752)
SHIBATA Yasuyuki National Institute for Environmental Studies, Environmental Chemistry Division, Chief, 化学環境研究領域, 室長 (80154251)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2002 – 2004
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| Keywords | Ryukyu Islands / Human Skeletal Remains / Stress Marker / Diet / Subsistence / Pumice / life experience |
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| Research Abstract |
In this research, Doi N. investigated human skeletal remains excavated recently from Ryukyu islands. Skeletal morphology of medieval Gusuku age showed that the features of medieval Okinawans, like as distinct alveolar protrusion and dokichocrany, have close resemblances to those of the typical medieval Japanese. These features have never seen in the prehistoric Okinawans. These findings seemed to support the idea that chronological changes of skeletal morphology among the Okinawans were formed probably through the influence of medieval people from Japanese mainland.
Ishida H. investigated dental morphology of Okinawans and discussed intra-populational variation and their affinities to surrounding areas.
Takamiya H. analyzed plant and animal remains from archaeological sites, in the context of island prehistory. He introduced hypotheses on the origins of agriculture in the Okinawa archipelago and examined them based on archaeobotanical data.
Yoneda M. analyzed stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of collagen for series of human remains obtained from the Ryukyu islands, inducing Okinawa, Miyako, and Yaeyama islands. The results showed a significant diversity in the dietary habits on the Ryukyu islands both in space and time. While the results of the prehistoric and recent periods were best interpreted their protein sources to composed mainly of C3 and marine ecosystems, two populations in the Sakishima area of the Gusuku period showed clear evidence of C4 plants (e.g.foxtail millets) consumption and more strong dependence on marine protein, respectively.
Kato Y. tried to devise the new method for estimating ages of archaeological sites in Ryukyu islands, by analyzing chemical components of pumice stones from archaeological sites in Ryukyu islands.
Miyagi H. and Nishime A. prepared data base of human skeletal remains and archaeological sites from Ryukyu islands
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