Japanese History Digest

Paleolithic Age

The Origin of Humankind

It is said that humans appeared on Earth 5 million years ago at the beginning of the Neogene period, and at that time, Japan was still connected to the Asian continent. It is said that the Japanese archipelago took on its current shape about 10,000 years ago.

 

The Paleolithic Era

Geologically, the period from 2 million years ago to 10,000 years ago is referred to as the Pleistocene, and the period after that is called the Holocene. During the Pleistocene in Japan, large animals such as mammoths and Naumann elephants came from the continent, and humans are believed to have followed them.
Japan's Paleolithic era is thought to have lasted from the time when humans migrated to the Japanese archipelago until around 14,000 BC when agriculture began. At that time, people lived by hunting and gathering using flaked stone tools. During this era, humans crushed obsidian and sanukite to make flaked stone tools. Initially, the tools were intended for striking, such as oval-shaped stone tools (hand axes), but they gradually evolved into knife-shaped tools for cutting, pointed tools like spearheads, and finely crafted stone tools that were mounted on wood or bone handles to create cutting tools.
During this period, agriculture had not yet begun, and the economy centered around hunting, fishing, and gathering nuts and fruits, using flaked stone tools. People in the Paleolithic era were known to have lived in caves, and pit dwellings have also been found. However, there are few examples of settlement remains, and it is believed that people lived by hunting and gathering while moving around.

 

Iwajuku ruins (Gunma Prefecture)

In 1949, flaked stone tools were discovered in Iwajuku (now Midori City), Gunma Prefecture. As these tools were found in the red soil of the Kanto loam layer during the later Pleistocene period, it was proven that humans were present in the Pleistocene in the Japanese archipelago. The discoverer of this site was Tadayo Aizawa.

 

Facilities where you can learn about the Paleolithic Age

Sakiyama Kaizuka Jomon no Mori Museum in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture
https://www.city.miyako.iwate.jp/bnka/sakiyamamuseum/sakiyama_museum1_2.html

Sendai City Tomizawa Site Preservation Museum, Forest Museum of Underground
https://www.sentabi.jp/guidebook/attractions/15/

Nojiriko Museum of Naumann Elephant
http://nojiriko-museum.com/

Minamimaki Village Art and Folklore Museum
http://www.ytg.janis.or.jp/~bijyutsu/

Suichouen Archaeological Site
https://www.city.habikino.lg.jp/soshiki/shougaigakushu/bunka-sekai/bunkazai/bunkazai/iseki_shokai/kyusekkijidai/2561.html

Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum
https://okimu.jp/museum/permanent/specialized/
Official website of the Aizawa Tadahiro Memorial Museum
http://www15.plala.or.jp/Aizawa-Tadahiro

Iwajuku Museum in Midori City
http://www.city.midori.gunma.jp/iwajuku/

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