A study about the style chage of Kofun-period Sueki

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13238
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 03050:Archaeology-related
• Research Institution: Kashihara Archaeological Institute , Nara prefecture
• Principal Investigator: Iwakoshi Yohei 奈良県立橿原考古学研究所, 調査部調査課, 主任研究員 (60815067)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 古墳時代 / 須恵器

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project focuses on “sueki”, a type of pottery produced using advanced techniques involving kilns, which was introduced to Japan from the Korean Peninsula during the Kofun period. The research focuses on major changes in “sueki” in 6th century, such as the replacement of vessel forms and innovations in design, i.e., stylistic changes, and aims to clarify the background of these changes. Case studies of “sueki” production sites and kofun in Nara Prefecture and the relationship between “sueki” production and kofun construction trends nationwide were conducted, and it was revealed that rituals in kofun may have led to changes in “sueki”, and that specific vessel forms were shared through wide-area networks. In addition, the relationship between the characteristics of the group and the selection of vessel types was examined for clustered kofun.

Free Research Field

古墳時代

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題では古墳時代の日本で生産された硬質の焼き物である「須恵器」を対象とした研究を通して、その変化の背景や、列島内での技術の共有の状況から読み取れる王権や地域間の関係を検討し、当時の社会の一端に迫ろうとした。検討の結果、須恵器生産地の動静や須恵器の変化が各地の古墳築造と深い関係を持つことなどが明らかとなった。今回得られた研究成果は、古墳時代の地域開発や列島内の地域間関係の解明など、今後の古墳時代研究にも資することが期待できる。