Daily Tools of the Yayoi Period
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Octopus Trap
Found at the Yotsuike Site, Osaka, Yayoi period, 2nd century BC–3rd century AD (Gift of Mr. Maeda Chozaburo)Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
September 9, 2025 (Tue) - February 1, 2026 (Sun)In the Yayoi period (ca. 5th century BC–3rd century AD), polished stone and metal tools were introduced from China and the Korean Peninsula along with wet rice cultivation. Stone tools included rice reapers for harvesting, a range of polished axes and adzes for making wooden agricultural tools, and polished arrowheads that could have been used as weapons. These tools were subsequently made with iron.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Clog Used in Rice Paddies | Found at the Sena Site, Shizuoka | Yayoi period, 2nd century BC–3rd century AD | Lent by Shizuoka Prefectural Education Commission | |||
| Highlight | Iron Axe | Excavated at the mountain behind Korinji Temple, Shinonoi, Nagano-shi, Nagano | Yayoi period, 2nd-1st century BC | J-12946 | |||
| Highlight | Unfinished Arrowhead | Found in Shiga Prefecture | Yayoi period, 1st–3rd century | J-1863 | |||
| Highlight | Octopus Trap | Found at the Yotsuike Site, Osaka | Yayoi period, 2nd century BC–3rd century AD | Gift of Mr. Maeda Chozaburo, J-10068 | |||
| Highlight | Clay Spindle Whorl | Found in Matsumoto City, Nagano | Yayoi period, 2nd–1st century BC | J-19185 |