An Archaeological Study on the Origin and Economic History of the Kuril Ainu (Fostering Joint International Research)

• Project/Area Number: 15KK0031
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Takase Katsunori 北海道大学, 文学研究科, 准教授 (00347254)
• Research Collaborator: Fitzhugh Ben ワシントン大学, 人類学部, 教授 ; Lebedintsev Aleksandr Ivanovich ロシア科学アカデミー極東支部東北学際研究所, 歴史学民族学研究室, 研究室長
• Project Period (FY): 2016 – 2018
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥14,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥11,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,360,000)
• Keywords: 千島アイヌ / 千島列島 / カムチャツカ半島 / オホーツク文化 / 続縄文文化 / 動物骨 / 石器 / カムチャツカ / 考古学 / 先史学 / 生業 / 交易

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Kuril Ainu emerged in the 15th century, and they occupied in a wide area in Southern Kamchatka. However, recent archaeological research reveals that their main habitation area moved to the Northern Kuril Islands in the beginning of the 18th century. Because of the differences in the amount and variety of resources, Kuril Ainu's economy must have been changed after their retreat from Kamchatka in the beginning of the 18th century. This study clarifies this economic change through examinations of the archaeofaunal composition and methods for manufacturing and using stone tools.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在，国内外から注目を集めているアイヌ語使用集団の文化や経済には高い多様性があること，文字記録が多く残されている18世紀以降の状況がどこまでも遡るわけではなく，歴史的に形成されてきていることを実物資料を使って実証的に提示することができる点に本研究の学術的意義がある。千島アイヌの人口は1884年の色丹島への強制移住後に激減し，現在は文化継承者はいないとされている。そうした集団の知られざる歴史を復元し，将来へと伝えていくべき新たな知見がえられた点に，本研究の社会的意義がある。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] ロシア科学アカデミー極東支部東北学際研究所(ロシア連邦) (2017)
  • Year and Date: 2017-10-03
• [Int'l Joint Research] ワシントン大学(米国) (2017)
• [Journal Article] The occurrence and temporal change in habitat of the Kuril Ainu: perspectives from archaeology (2019)
  • Author(s): Takase, K.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 33rd International Abashiri Symposium Volume: なし Pages: 25-32
• [Presentation] 千島アイヌの出現と居住域の変化―考古学からの展望― (2018)
  • Author(s): 高瀬克範
  • Organizer: 環北太平洋地域の伝統と文化3 カムチャツカ半島・千島列島
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Chronology, occupation, and trade in Northern Japan and the Kuril Islands (2018)
  • Author(s): Takase, K.
  • Organizer: Interaction in the Circumpolar Pacific Sphere: 5000 BC to AD
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Book] Illustrated Catalogue of Archaeological Materials from Kamchatka in T. M. Dikova Collection Preserved in the North-Eastern Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (NEISRI FEB RAS), Magadan, Russia (2019)
  • Author(s): Takase, K. and A. I. Lebedintsev
  • Total Pages: 126
  • Publisher: Archaeology Laboratory, Graduate School of Letters, Hokkaido University, Japan and The North-Eastern Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute, FEB RAS, Russia