People of the Prehistoric Eras Fascinated by Stones

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Stone Arrowheads, From Furukaido Nagane, Gonohe-machi, Aomori, Jomon period, 2000 - 400 BC (Gift of Mr. Ewatari Kuamagoro)

Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
August 2, 2011 (Tue) - October 30, 2011 (Sun)

Mankind has made life richer and more convenient by making tools and utilizing them. Stone implements are among the most basic forms of these tools. The use of stone implements was from the Paleolithic to the Jomon and continued into the Yayoi period, with each tool carrying stories of its own.
This thematic exhibition aims to present the life and thoughts of our ancestors through tools made from stone. First we introduce representative stone materials according to region, followed by tools that supported livelihoods such as hunting and gathering. Then we look into the implements which acted as intermediaries between the living and the spiritual world, such as for dedications and prayers for nature. Lastly, we focus on the making of these tools, by featuring sophisticated methods.
The exhibit will also look into stone implements from the Sone archaeological site of Lake Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, by recreating the world of hunters now preserved in the bottom of this lake, as well as viewing the stories of archaeologists who pushed forward with research into stone implements.

Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.

Blade, From Abesan, Kasaoka-shi and Asakuchi-shi, Okayama, Paleolithic period, 13000 BC (Gift of Mr. Eda Masuroku)
Stone Arrowhead, From Sone site, the bottom of Suwa Lake, Kamisuwa and Kogandori, Suwa-shi, Nagano, Jomon period, 10000 - 7000 BC (Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Yorisada)
Chipped Stone Saw, From Kurose, Tomie-machi, Goto-shi, Nagasaki, Jomon period, 2000 - 1000 BC (Gift of Mr. Konishi Hajime)
Stone Adz, From Oishi Shojidaira, Uonuma-shi, Niigata, Jomon period, 10000 - 7000 BC (Gift of Mr. Hoshino Yoshi)
Stone Dagger, From Kokusube, Asahi-machi, Yamagata, Jomon period, 4000 - 3000 BC (Gift of Mr. Ohara Kanzo)
Stone Rod, From Obukai, Sakura-shi, Chiba, Jomon period, 1000 - 400 BC (Gift of Mr. Ichihara Tozaburo)
Chinese Broadsword-shaped Stone, From Saibana Shell Mound, Mutsu-shi, Aomori, Jomon period, 3000 - 1000 BC (Private collection)
Polished Stone Arrowhead, From Shiozawa, Yonezawa, Chino-shi, Nagano, Yayoi period, 1st - 3rd century
Arrowhead (copy), Meiji period, 19th - 20th century (Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Yorisada)