A study on the changes in food habits of cultural groups in the Circum-Japan Sea Area

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23720379
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: KUNIKITA DAI 東京大学, 人文社会系研究科, 助教 (00549561)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 考古学 / 環日本海地域 / 土器付着物 / 炭素・窒素同位体分析 / 放射性炭素年代測定

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we attempted to date and reconstruct food habits through carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, and C/N analysis of charred residues inside pottery from sites in the Circum-Japan Sea Area. These research results were achieved under the following three research topics (1) Elucidation of meaning in the initial stages of the emergence of pottery, (2) Changes in food habits of cultural groups in the Russian Far East and Hokkaido, (3) Utilization of cultivated plants and marine resources. The food boiled in the pots came from marine foods and anadromous fish such as salmonids and some species of trout in the most of cultural groups. By these results, it is possible that we discuss more concretely the formation process of prehistoric culture and the relationship between the Russian Far East and Hokkaido.

Free Research Field

考古学