Books by Hiroshi Kajiwara
The Preliminary Excavation at Kabasawayama, Sendai, Japan.
Hiroshi Kajiwara
Kabasawayama is loca... more The Preliminary Excavation at Kabasawayama, Sendai, Japan.
Hiroshi Kajiwara
Kabasawayama is located on a eastern hilly flank of the Ohu mountain range in the western suburb of city of Sendai. At the site, rescue archaeological work was originally done in 1983 by a board of education and culture of former Miyagi town, now annexed to Sendai city. According to a report published by it, the site yielded 22 pit dwellings of the early Jomon period and various pottery fragments ranging from the Initial Jomon to Yayoi. With regard to the lithic tools, one edge ground axe and one retouched adze have been identified as those of products of Upper Pal eolithic.
Preliminary excavation of 2011 was conducted under a plan to confirm whether or not the Kabasawayama site is extended to the western terrace next to the Akasaka New Town.
As a result of a new excavation in 2011, we confirm that the site is extended to the much western area than expected. In the course of the excavation, 13 pottery fragments and 16 lithic artifacts were unearthed from the 2nd to 3rd layer. Also in the grid 8, a kind of fire place is recognized. A blade like flake and a denticulate made on siliceous shale are taken notice. Especially, the latter one is found on the 3rd layer assumingly belongings to the late pleistocene period,.
Резюме
Первичные раскопки на стоянке Кабасаваяма города Сэндай, Япония
Хироси Кадзивара
Стоянка Кабасаваяма находится на речной террасе р. Хиросэ на высоте 230 м. В 1983 году по одельном культуры и педагоки города Мияги-чо здесь были проведены новострочные археологические работы. В результате работ было найдено 22 жилища эпохи раннего Дземона, карамика разного времени от Джомона до Яей и разные типы камменых орудий на кремневом сланце эпохи Дземона и Верхнего Палеолита.
В результате новых раскопок, проведеных автором в 2011 году в течение 10 дней, былд найдена 13 фрагметов карамики и 16 камменных орудий на сланце. В составе оруди особое вниманиие заслуживает пластинчтый отщеп и зубчатое орудие. Работы дают основание сказать что стоянка Кабасаваяма распространяется дальше к западу чем предполагалось раньше. При последоющих раскопках Мы надеемся обнаружить позний палеолит на этом памятнике.
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Papers by Hiroshi Kajiwara
Tohoku Fukushi University Serizawa Keisuke Art and Craft Museum vol.9, 2018
New Synthesis on the Origin of Oyoroi Armor in terms of Lamellae.
Kajiwara Hiroshi
The Oyoroi ar... more New Synthesis on the Origin of Oyoroi Armor in terms of Lamellae.
Kajiwara Hiroshi
The Oyoroi armor is highly regarded as the full bloom (florescence) of artisanship in Japanese art history. The armor is considered to have appeared in at least 11th century, i.e. during the middle Heian period. However, because intact specimens of the Oyoroi of that date have rarely been preserved, the origin still remains ambiguous. The explanation for the evolution of lamellae has a possibility to shed a light on this question. As parts of the Oyoroi, 3 types of lamellae, Yotsume-zane, Mitsume-zane and Nami-zane were exploited. The lacing methods of these are divided into 2 types, one is Tatedori-odoshi (vertical lacing with lamellae above) and the other is Nawamedori-odoshi (oblique lacing with lamellae above) (fig6,7,10).
The similar arrangement for lacing and binding holes between the type ll lamellas from Akitajo (8th century) (fig3) and those discovered in the Maritime region of Russia (fig4), should have been a result of some form of trading or diplomatic relationships as historical records (for example Shoku-Nihongi) have referred to. This type ll lamellae is a dominant candidate of the Oyoroi lamellae, because the earliest examples of it (Yotsume-zane for Tatedori-odoshi) show almost the same arrangement of lacing and binding holes with those of type ll lamellae. Each has 2 vertical rows of 16 or 14 lacing and binding holes on both sides of the lamellas (fig9).
With regard to the methods of the lacing, the Nawamedori-odoshi is duly supposed to have been developed from Tatedori-odoshi. Consequently, the Nami-zane lamellae for Oyoroi, with 13 holes arrayed in double vertical rows, is hypothesized to have evolved from the type ll lamellae at Akitajo with 16 holes in double rows through the Yotsume-zane lamellae with 14 holes in double rows during the Heian period associated with the rise of Samurai worriers (fig10).
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Kyushu Kyusekki., 2018
Abstract
It is necessary to reconsider the fundamental analytical framework of the Early Paleoli... more Abstract
It is necessary to reconsider the fundamental analytical framework of the Early Paleolithic assemblages in Japan (EPJ). The EPJ industries we have investigated, are ubiquitously composed of bipolar reduction technique, rather than freehand flaking. Examination of the flake manufacturing techniques employed in the surrounding area, suggests bipolar reduction was a common technique for Early or Lower Paleolithic assemblages of East and South-East Asia, including the Japanese Archipelago. Chert stone tool material, is abundant in Northern Kanto. However, well-developed natural cleavage planes or interstitial unidirectional ruptures of the cobble might hamper successful detachment of sufficient flakes by freehand knapping. This in turn made it easier to produce small rectangular or tabular flakes from chert by using bipolar techniques. Therefore, for inhabitants near chert quarries, bipolar percussion was the most economical technique to acquire useable flakes in situ. If they could have exploited other resources like siliceous shale, basalt or hornfels, free hand knapping was also employed. This means there must have been flexible options for lithic reduction techniques depending on the raw materials at hand.
By tephrochronology, lithic assemblages from Sozudai, Tsurugaya-Higashi and Hoshino were estimated to date younger than the MIS 5b at around 90ka. We suggest that the recognition of bipolar percussion in EPJ would enable us to perceive the whole reduction process (chaîne opératoire) from lithic resource procurement, flake production, stone tool manufacture and use, maintenance and retooling to final discards. It is the time to recover lost decades of research into the Early Paleolithic period in Japan.
Key words: Early Paleolithic, Bipolar reduction, Quartzite, Chert, Natural cleavage,
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The fish skin garment at the Serizawa Keisuke Art Museum in Shizuoka, Japan (fig. 1) was acquired... more The fish skin garment at the Serizawa Keisuke Art Museum in Shizuoka, Japan (fig. 1) was acquired by late Professor Chosuke Serizawa around 1953. The garment was likely first discovered and purchased at a Nivkh village in Sakhalin (Karafuto in Japanese) by Professor Shuzo Ishida in 1914 during his expeditions there. Tanned fish skins (mostly Salmonidae) were light, water-resistant materials widely exploited for daily use among natives in Eurasia (fig. 3, 5, 6). Especially the Nanai (previously called “Gold”) living along the Amur and its tributaries were famed for their excellent fish skin garments with skilful embroidery and splendid back appliques, and were known as the “fish skin Tartars” in China (fig. 2).
As a native folk art, fish skin garments were first described in detail by Berthold Laufer, a member of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History led by the famous anthropologist F. Boas. Laufer’s ethnographic monograph of 1902, “The Decorative Art of the Amur Tribe,” provided excellent illustrations and explanations of fish skin garments in these regions. Comparing the garment from the Serizawa collection with those of Laufer (1902), Ivanov (1963), Okladnikov (1964, 1981), Smolyak (1984), Kocheshkov (1995), and so on, I have tried to ascertain the historical, ethnological and artistic significance of the Serizawa garment among the indigenous cultures of the Amur, Sakhalin and Hokkaido, and have made these principal observations:
1. The general style of the garment is very similar to those worn by noble women of the Qing dynasty in China (fig. 12). Fish skin garments were produced as wedding costumes presented to daughters by their mothers. The bell-like metal ornaments hanging along the hem functioned as lucky weights, preventing disturbance by winds and evils (fig. 8, 9).
2. Within the complex spiral patterns on these garments, Laufer recognized and placed importance on animal motifs—fowl, dragons, fish, and deer—as individual symbols borrowed from Chinese culture. I, however, would place more emphasis on the whole complex of spirals and animal motifs as a kind of lucky omen (fig. 10, 13).
3. With regard to the designs on these fish-skin garments, four types have been discerned (fig. 14-17). The Serizawa garment is classified as type B.
4. As to the chronological placement of fish skin garments, those with simpler appliques appear to be much older, as on the most archaic samples, appliques appear to have simply been designed to close holes made in the removal of fins (fig. 4).
5. In the process of examining the Serizawa garment, I was able to shed light on the small, red colored dots symmetrically arranged on both faces of the garment (fig. 11). These dots have rarely been noted by previous researchers.
6. The side-hanging decorations imitate ancient ceremonial ornaments found on robes for noble women in China (fig. 18).
7. The Serizawa garment, with its splendid appliques, is confirmed as one of the most excellently designed existing specimens produced by highly skilled Nanai women, possibly in the mid-19th century.
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Tohoku Fukushi University and the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of Russian Ac... more Tohoku Fukushi University and the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of Russian Academy of Science in Vladivostok had continued joint archaeological expedition at Ustinovka site complexes as Ustinovka 3, 6 and 7 from 1992 to 2000. The joint expeditions opened a new era for the Northeast Asian Prehistory and provided fruitful results from the Early Upper Paleolthic to the Final Paleolithic of the region around the Japan sea coast. Large blade industry was unearthed at Ustinovka 7, microblade industry of the late paleolithic period was found at Ustinovka 6 and Ustinovka 3 yielded incipient pottery fragments with inner scratched surface and poorly fired . Each industry lies on the chronologically separated terrace from 40m to 10m. These industries appear almost consistent with Japanese paleolithic industries in date.
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Professor Morse was well acquainted with the new academic currents of the time. The opening parag... more Professor Morse was well acquainted with the new academic currents of the time. The opening paragraph of his report began with a declaration on the new scientific era opened by Charles Darwin. He referred to the disputes which raged on the antiquity of Human Beings or the stumbles of many forerunners on this issue. However, he also celebrated the final victory of Darwin’s theory in this struggle, which gave birth to prehistoric archaeology as a new discipline. This shows clearly that his scientific back ground was deeply rooted in Western prehistoric research, not only in the United States but also in Europe and particularly the United Kingdom. It is quite likely that his descriptions of the current state of prehistoric archaeology in Europe were based mainly on Lubbock’s “Prehistoric Times”. In this essay, I have endeavored to clarify his academic background in prehistory, as hitherto this has not been the subject of detailed research in Japan. I have also given an overview of how his data on Japanese prehistory were exploited in Western publications during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Lamellar armor, constructed of hundreds of small rectangular lamellae of wood, hide, bone, antler... more Lamellar armor, constructed of hundreds of small rectangular lamellae of wood, hide, bone, antler, bronze, or iron, has been widely used across Eurasia, from Europe to Japan. Rectangular lamellae with holes for lacing one to another with straps or cords first appeared in Assyria in the eighth or seventh century B.C., then spread through central Asia to Siberia, Mongolia, China, Korea and finally Japan in the fifth century A.D.
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Microblade reduction techniques and associated bone industries seem to be a unique indigenous tec... more Microblade reduction techniques and associated bone industries seem to be a unique indigenous techno-complex for Modern Humans at least from Europe to the Levant. Based on this hypothesis, it is also possible to claim that the appearance of microblade technique itself was a true symptom of the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic Period in Eurasia. Accordingly, in Siberia or the Far East, flourishing blade reduction techniques were possibly showing the final stage of the Middle Paleolithic. This hypothesis is consistent wit the good accordance of what are called Early Upper Paleolithic industries found at Sannyi-Mys or Tolbaga in Zabaikal’e with lithics on blades manufactured by the Levallois technique. In this sense, it is possible to say that the succeeding microblade industry itself was a genuine upper Paleolithic tradition. Therefore, the Upper Paleolithic began at around 30ka in Altai, and 21ka in the Far East including Hokkaido. These phenomena may imply migration or dispersal routes of Modern Humans from the Near East to all of Eurasia in various events as has been suggested by Gene analyses ( for example Wells 2002).
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Archaeology, Jan 1, 1981
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Books by Hiroshi Kajiwara
Hiroshi Kajiwara
Kabasawayama is located on a eastern hilly flank of the Ohu mountain range in the western suburb of city of Sendai. At the site, rescue archaeological work was originally done in 1983 by a board of education and culture of former Miyagi town, now annexed to Sendai city. According to a report published by it, the site yielded 22 pit dwellings of the early Jomon period and various pottery fragments ranging from the Initial Jomon to Yayoi. With regard to the lithic tools, one edge ground axe and one retouched adze have been identified as those of products of Upper Pal eolithic.
Preliminary excavation of 2011 was conducted under a plan to confirm whether or not the Kabasawayama site is extended to the western terrace next to the Akasaka New Town.
As a result of a new excavation in 2011, we confirm that the site is extended to the much western area than expected. In the course of the excavation, 13 pottery fragments and 16 lithic artifacts were unearthed from the 2nd to 3rd layer. Also in the grid 8, a kind of fire place is recognized. A blade like flake and a denticulate made on siliceous shale are taken notice. Especially, the latter one is found on the 3rd layer assumingly belongings to the late pleistocene period,.
Резюме
Первичные раскопки на стоянке Кабасаваяма города Сэндай, Япония
Хироси Кадзивара
Стоянка Кабасаваяма находится на речной террасе р. Хиросэ на высоте 230 м. В 1983 году по одельном культуры и педагоки города Мияги-чо здесь были проведены новострочные археологические работы. В результате работ было найдено 22 жилища эпохи раннего Дземона, карамика разного времени от Джомона до Яей и разные типы камменых орудий на кремневом сланце эпохи Дземона и Верхнего Палеолита.
В результате новых раскопок, проведеных автором в 2011 году в течение 10 дней, былд найдена 13 фрагметов карамики и 16 камменных орудий на сланце. В составе оруди особое вниманиие заслуживает пластинчтый отщеп и зубчатое орудие. Работы дают основание сказать что стоянка Кабасаваяма распространяется дальше к западу чем предполагалось раньше. При последоющих раскопках Мы надеемся обнаружить позний палеолит на этом памятнике.
Papers by Hiroshi Kajiwara
Kajiwara Hiroshi
The Oyoroi armor is highly regarded as the full bloom (florescence) of artisanship in Japanese art history. The armor is considered to have appeared in at least 11th century, i.e. during the middle Heian period. However, because intact specimens of the Oyoroi of that date have rarely been preserved, the origin still remains ambiguous. The explanation for the evolution of lamellae has a possibility to shed a light on this question. As parts of the Oyoroi, 3 types of lamellae, Yotsume-zane, Mitsume-zane and Nami-zane were exploited. The lacing methods of these are divided into 2 types, one is Tatedori-odoshi (vertical lacing with lamellae above) and the other is Nawamedori-odoshi (oblique lacing with lamellae above) (fig6,7,10).
The similar arrangement for lacing and binding holes between the type ll lamellas from Akitajo (8th century) (fig3) and those discovered in the Maritime region of Russia (fig4), should have been a result of some form of trading or diplomatic relationships as historical records (for example Shoku-Nihongi) have referred to. This type ll lamellae is a dominant candidate of the Oyoroi lamellae, because the earliest examples of it (Yotsume-zane for Tatedori-odoshi) show almost the same arrangement of lacing and binding holes with those of type ll lamellae. Each has 2 vertical rows of 16 or 14 lacing and binding holes on both sides of the lamellas (fig9).
With regard to the methods of the lacing, the Nawamedori-odoshi is duly supposed to have been developed from Tatedori-odoshi. Consequently, the Nami-zane lamellae for Oyoroi, with 13 holes arrayed in double vertical rows, is hypothesized to have evolved from the type ll lamellae at Akitajo with 16 holes in double rows through the Yotsume-zane lamellae with 14 holes in double rows during the Heian period associated with the rise of Samurai worriers (fig10).
It is necessary to reconsider the fundamental analytical framework of the Early Paleolithic assemblages in Japan (EPJ). The EPJ industries we have investigated, are ubiquitously composed of bipolar reduction technique, rather than freehand flaking. Examination of the flake manufacturing techniques employed in the surrounding area, suggests bipolar reduction was a common technique for Early or Lower Paleolithic assemblages of East and South-East Asia, including the Japanese Archipelago. Chert stone tool material, is abundant in Northern Kanto. However, well-developed natural cleavage planes or interstitial unidirectional ruptures of the cobble might hamper successful detachment of sufficient flakes by freehand knapping. This in turn made it easier to produce small rectangular or tabular flakes from chert by using bipolar techniques. Therefore, for inhabitants near chert quarries, bipolar percussion was the most economical technique to acquire useable flakes in situ. If they could have exploited other resources like siliceous shale, basalt or hornfels, free hand knapping was also employed. This means there must have been flexible options for lithic reduction techniques depending on the raw materials at hand.
By tephrochronology, lithic assemblages from Sozudai, Tsurugaya-Higashi and Hoshino were estimated to date younger than the MIS 5b at around 90ka. We suggest that the recognition of bipolar percussion in EPJ would enable us to perceive the whole reduction process (chaîne opératoire) from lithic resource procurement, flake production, stone tool manufacture and use, maintenance and retooling to final discards. It is the time to recover lost decades of research into the Early Paleolithic period in Japan.
Key words: Early Paleolithic, Bipolar reduction, Quartzite, Chert, Natural cleavage,
As a native folk art, fish skin garments were first described in detail by Berthold Laufer, a member of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History led by the famous anthropologist F. Boas. Laufer’s ethnographic monograph of 1902, “The Decorative Art of the Amur Tribe,” provided excellent illustrations and explanations of fish skin garments in these regions. Comparing the garment from the Serizawa collection with those of Laufer (1902), Ivanov (1963), Okladnikov (1964, 1981), Smolyak (1984), Kocheshkov (1995), and so on, I have tried to ascertain the historical, ethnological and artistic significance of the Serizawa garment among the indigenous cultures of the Amur, Sakhalin and Hokkaido, and have made these principal observations:
1. The general style of the garment is very similar to those worn by noble women of the Qing dynasty in China (fig. 12). Fish skin garments were produced as wedding costumes presented to daughters by their mothers. The bell-like metal ornaments hanging along the hem functioned as lucky weights, preventing disturbance by winds and evils (fig. 8, 9).
2. Within the complex spiral patterns on these garments, Laufer recognized and placed importance on animal motifs—fowl, dragons, fish, and deer—as individual symbols borrowed from Chinese culture. I, however, would place more emphasis on the whole complex of spirals and animal motifs as a kind of lucky omen (fig. 10, 13).
3. With regard to the designs on these fish-skin garments, four types have been discerned (fig. 14-17). The Serizawa garment is classified as type B.
4. As to the chronological placement of fish skin garments, those with simpler appliques appear to be much older, as on the most archaic samples, appliques appear to have simply been designed to close holes made in the removal of fins (fig. 4).
5. In the process of examining the Serizawa garment, I was able to shed light on the small, red colored dots symmetrically arranged on both faces of the garment (fig. 11). These dots have rarely been noted by previous researchers.
6. The side-hanging decorations imitate ancient ceremonial ornaments found on robes for noble women in China (fig. 18).
7. The Serizawa garment, with its splendid appliques, is confirmed as one of the most excellently designed existing specimens produced by highly skilled Nanai women, possibly in the mid-19th century.
Hiroshi Kajiwara
Kabasawayama is located on a eastern hilly flank of the Ohu mountain range in the western suburb of city of Sendai. At the site, rescue archaeological work was originally done in 1983 by a board of education and culture of former Miyagi town, now annexed to Sendai city. According to a report published by it, the site yielded 22 pit dwellings of the early Jomon period and various pottery fragments ranging from the Initial Jomon to Yayoi. With regard to the lithic tools, one edge ground axe and one retouched adze have been identified as those of products of Upper Pal eolithic.
Preliminary excavation of 2011 was conducted under a plan to confirm whether or not the Kabasawayama site is extended to the western terrace next to the Akasaka New Town.
As a result of a new excavation in 2011, we confirm that the site is extended to the much western area than expected. In the course of the excavation, 13 pottery fragments and 16 lithic artifacts were unearthed from the 2nd to 3rd layer. Also in the grid 8, a kind of fire place is recognized. A blade like flake and a denticulate made on siliceous shale are taken notice. Especially, the latter one is found on the 3rd layer assumingly belongings to the late pleistocene period,.
Резюме
Первичные раскопки на стоянке Кабасаваяма города Сэндай, Япония
Хироси Кадзивара
Стоянка Кабасаваяма находится на речной террасе р. Хиросэ на высоте 230 м. В 1983 году по одельном культуры и педагоки города Мияги-чо здесь были проведены новострочные археологические работы. В результате работ было найдено 22 жилища эпохи раннего Дземона, карамика разного времени от Джомона до Яей и разные типы камменых орудий на кремневом сланце эпохи Дземона и Верхнего Палеолита.
В результате новых раскопок, проведеных автором в 2011 году в течение 10 дней, былд найдена 13 фрагметов карамики и 16 камменных орудий на сланце. В составе оруди особое вниманиие заслуживает пластинчтый отщеп и зубчатое орудие. Работы дают основание сказать что стоянка Кабасаваяма распространяется дальше к западу чем предполагалось раньше. При последоющих раскопках Мы надеемся обнаружить позний палеолит на этом памятнике.
Kajiwara Hiroshi
The Oyoroi armor is highly regarded as the full bloom (florescence) of artisanship in Japanese art history. The armor is considered to have appeared in at least 11th century, i.e. during the middle Heian period. However, because intact specimens of the Oyoroi of that date have rarely been preserved, the origin still remains ambiguous. The explanation for the evolution of lamellae has a possibility to shed a light on this question. As parts of the Oyoroi, 3 types of lamellae, Yotsume-zane, Mitsume-zane and Nami-zane were exploited. The lacing methods of these are divided into 2 types, one is Tatedori-odoshi (vertical lacing with lamellae above) and the other is Nawamedori-odoshi (oblique lacing with lamellae above) (fig6,7,10).
The similar arrangement for lacing and binding holes between the type ll lamellas from Akitajo (8th century) (fig3) and those discovered in the Maritime region of Russia (fig4), should have been a result of some form of trading or diplomatic relationships as historical records (for example Shoku-Nihongi) have referred to. This type ll lamellae is a dominant candidate of the Oyoroi lamellae, because the earliest examples of it (Yotsume-zane for Tatedori-odoshi) show almost the same arrangement of lacing and binding holes with those of type ll lamellae. Each has 2 vertical rows of 16 or 14 lacing and binding holes on both sides of the lamellas (fig9).
With regard to the methods of the lacing, the Nawamedori-odoshi is duly supposed to have been developed from Tatedori-odoshi. Consequently, the Nami-zane lamellae for Oyoroi, with 13 holes arrayed in double vertical rows, is hypothesized to have evolved from the type ll lamellae at Akitajo with 16 holes in double rows through the Yotsume-zane lamellae with 14 holes in double rows during the Heian period associated with the rise of Samurai worriers (fig10).
It is necessary to reconsider the fundamental analytical framework of the Early Paleolithic assemblages in Japan (EPJ). The EPJ industries we have investigated, are ubiquitously composed of bipolar reduction technique, rather than freehand flaking. Examination of the flake manufacturing techniques employed in the surrounding area, suggests bipolar reduction was a common technique for Early or Lower Paleolithic assemblages of East and South-East Asia, including the Japanese Archipelago. Chert stone tool material, is abundant in Northern Kanto. However, well-developed natural cleavage planes or interstitial unidirectional ruptures of the cobble might hamper successful detachment of sufficient flakes by freehand knapping. This in turn made it easier to produce small rectangular or tabular flakes from chert by using bipolar techniques. Therefore, for inhabitants near chert quarries, bipolar percussion was the most economical technique to acquire useable flakes in situ. If they could have exploited other resources like siliceous shale, basalt or hornfels, free hand knapping was also employed. This means there must have been flexible options for lithic reduction techniques depending on the raw materials at hand.
By tephrochronology, lithic assemblages from Sozudai, Tsurugaya-Higashi and Hoshino were estimated to date younger than the MIS 5b at around 90ka. We suggest that the recognition of bipolar percussion in EPJ would enable us to perceive the whole reduction process (chaîne opératoire) from lithic resource procurement, flake production, stone tool manufacture and use, maintenance and retooling to final discards. It is the time to recover lost decades of research into the Early Paleolithic period in Japan.
Key words: Early Paleolithic, Bipolar reduction, Quartzite, Chert, Natural cleavage,
As a native folk art, fish skin garments were first described in detail by Berthold Laufer, a member of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History led by the famous anthropologist F. Boas. Laufer’s ethnographic monograph of 1902, “The Decorative Art of the Amur Tribe,” provided excellent illustrations and explanations of fish skin garments in these regions. Comparing the garment from the Serizawa collection with those of Laufer (1902), Ivanov (1963), Okladnikov (1964, 1981), Smolyak (1984), Kocheshkov (1995), and so on, I have tried to ascertain the historical, ethnological and artistic significance of the Serizawa garment among the indigenous cultures of the Amur, Sakhalin and Hokkaido, and have made these principal observations:
1. The general style of the garment is very similar to those worn by noble women of the Qing dynasty in China (fig. 12). Fish skin garments were produced as wedding costumes presented to daughters by their mothers. The bell-like metal ornaments hanging along the hem functioned as lucky weights, preventing disturbance by winds and evils (fig. 8, 9).
2. Within the complex spiral patterns on these garments, Laufer recognized and placed importance on animal motifs—fowl, dragons, fish, and deer—as individual symbols borrowed from Chinese culture. I, however, would place more emphasis on the whole complex of spirals and animal motifs as a kind of lucky omen (fig. 10, 13).
3. With regard to the designs on these fish-skin garments, four types have been discerned (fig. 14-17). The Serizawa garment is classified as type B.
4. As to the chronological placement of fish skin garments, those with simpler appliques appear to be much older, as on the most archaic samples, appliques appear to have simply been designed to close holes made in the removal of fins (fig. 4).
5. In the process of examining the Serizawa garment, I was able to shed light on the small, red colored dots symmetrically arranged on both faces of the garment (fig. 11). These dots have rarely been noted by previous researchers.
6. The side-hanging decorations imitate ancient ceremonial ornaments found on robes for noble women in China (fig. 18).
7. The Serizawa garment, with its splendid appliques, is confirmed as one of the most excellently designed existing specimens produced by highly skilled Nanai women, possibly in the mid-19th century.