Archeological Research on the History of Human Activity in the Four Northern Islands and Kuril Islands

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H00748
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03050:Archaeology-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido Museum
• Principal Investigator: USHIRO Hiroshi 北海道博物館, 研究部, 学芸員 (30213416)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 北方文化 / 先史文化 / 江戸・明治・大正 / アイヌ文化 / オホーツク文化 / 擦文文化 / 続縄文文化 / 縄文文化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Research results are summarized as follows:①The field survey of Four northern Islands summarized data from a total of 133 sites: 16 on Iturup Island, 94 on Kunashir Island, 22 on Shikotan Island, and 1 on Yururi Islet in Habomai Archipelago.②Archaeological collections of Kuril Islands and Four Northern Islands, which are kept by domestic institutions, were digitized.③The material-cultural expansion into Kuril Islands and Four Northern Islands began with Paleolithic culture period and cultural fusion with the people of Kamchatka was observed on Northern Kuril Islands, indicating the existence of a sustainable natural environment and resources for hunter-gatherer social structure from Zoku-Jomon culture.④The prehistoric culture of Hokkaido existed unaffectedly over a long period of time, from the Paleolithic culture to Ainu culture.⑤Starting from the eighth century, ethnocultural contact or logistical trade with central society in Kuril Islands and Northern Four Islands intensified.

Free Research Field

考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、人類活動史の空白域である北方四島と千島列島の考古学的な歴史・文化構造を解明し、学際的かつ実証的な総合的研究として意義深い成果をあげた。北方四島の現地調査では在住するロシア人研究者と連携し、歴史・文化の共有を友好的に理解し社会的な意義を高めた。また、自然生態系や地質地震系の研究者とは研究成果の共有をはかり、学際的な貢献を果たした。
特に、国が示す北方四島の歴史を先史時代の旧石器文化からはじまることを明らかにし社会貢献につながり、北方四島の歴史・文化を次世代に継承する重要性を元島民と共にシンポジウムや講演などで公開し、正しい歴史認識がもたれたことは北方領土問題解決に貢献する一助となった。