Permanent Settlements and the Creation of Pottery

Deep Vessel
Found in Hachinohe City, Aomori, Jōmon period, 4000-3000 BC

Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
September 8, 2026 (Tue) - March 14, 2027 (Sun)

Rising sea levels formed the Japanese islands when the ice age ended about 13,000 years ago. In response to their changing environment, people began using the bow and arrow for hunting, invented pottery, and began living in permanent settlements. This was the beginning of Japan’s Neolithic era, which lasted for approximately 10,000 years. Although farming and the rearing of livestock usually began during this era in other societies, life in Japan continued to be centered on foraging, fishing, and hunting.

Major Work(s) on Exhibit 8 results

	Designation	Name	Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance	Period	Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number	CMT
Highlight		Rod	Found in Komagane City, Nagano	Jōmon period, 3000–2000 BC	J-1474
Highlight		Deep Vessels	Found at the Hanamiyama Site, Kanagawa	Jōmon period, 11,000–7000 BC	Lent by the Yokohama City Board of Education, Kanagawa
Highlight	Important Cultural Property	Deep Vessel	Found at the Natsushima Shell Mound, Kanagawa	Jōmon period, 7000–4000 BC	Lent by the Meiji University Museum, Tokyo
Highlight		Deep Vessel	Found in Hachinohe City, Aomori	Jōmon period, 4000–3000 BC	J-34874
Highlight		Deep Vessel	Found at the Kawanishi Elementary School Site, Tochigi	Jōmon period, 3000–2000 BC	J-22776
		Deep Vessel	Excavated at Karumai-cho, Iwate	Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC	Gift of Mr. Matsudate Tomiharu, J-37414
Highlight		Irregularly-Shaped Vessel with a Spout	Found in Shichinohe Town, Aomori	Jōmon period, 2000–1000 BC	Private collection
Highlight		Deep Vessel	Found at the Azusawa Shell Mound, Tokyo	Jōmon period, 1000–400 BC	Gift of Mr. Goto Shuichi, J-23166

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