Change in the prehistoric use of arboreal resources in Japan: From their sophisticated management in the Jomon period to their intensive use in the Yayoi to Kofun periods

Abstract

In Japan, plant remains excavated from lowland sites have been studied extensively in the past thirty years. These studies revealed that people managed and used plant resources, especially arboreal ones, around settlements since the early Jomon period starting at ca. 7000 cal BP. In eastern Japan, this management of arboreal resources was recognized as intensive management and use of Castanea crenata (chestnut) and Toxicodendron vernicifluum (lacquer tree) resources around settlements. In the succeeding Yayoi and Kofun periods, use of arboreal resources drastically changed to intensive use of oak and conifer species and an apparent lack of resources management. This change seems to have been caused by the introduction of metal tools and agriculture, but the implication of such technical advancement on the management and use of arboreal resources has not been evaluated critically. By reviewing the studies of plant remains carried out in central to northeastern Japan, the cause of the drastic change in the management and use of arboreal resources in prehistoric Japan is discussed.