Reconstruction of the historical transition of pig breeding and utilization in prehistoric Okinawa by morphological characteristics of Sus scrofa remains excavated from archaeological sites

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00972
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03050:Archaeology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Niimi Michiko 名古屋大学, 博物館, 准教授 (10262065)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ブタ / イノシシ / 形質 / 家畜化 / 飼育 / 沖縄 / 縄文時代

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In Okinawa, the many bones of boars were excavated from the Jomon sites ( Noguni Shell Mound, Aragusuku-shichabaru Second Site, Shimotabaru Shell Mound ).We have performed a morphometric analysis of the bones and radiocarbon dated the bones themselves using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS).As a result, we found that from the end of the Initial Jomon period to the Early in West coast area of Okinawa main island, almost all of the bones were pigs and there was a common pattern of pig breeding within the area. In addition, we found that in Yaeyama Islands in the late Jomon period, most of the bones were pigs and pig breeding was practiced.

Free Research Field

動物考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

沖縄では現在もブタがさかんに利用されるが、このブタ利用文化がいつ始まったのかについては、これまでよくわかっていなかった。このブタ利用の始まりについて、沖縄の中でも本島から八重山地域までの広い範囲にわたって、縄文時代という古い時期からすでにブタの導入と飼育が行われていたことを明らかにできた。ただし、本島と八重山地域では同じ縄文期であってもブタのタイプや飼育パターンは大きく異なり、ブタ飼育には地域性が存在したことも明らかにできた。