Human Colonization of the Central Ryukyus (Amami and Okinawa Archipelagos), Japan

Abstract

Only a small number of islands were colonized by Homo sapiens during the Pleistocene. One such island group is the Ryukyu Archipelago located between Kyushu and Taiwan. The Minotogawa Fissure site, located on the island of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Archipelago, is known for well-preserved late Pleistocene Homo sapiens fossil remains that were unearthed in the 1960s. In addition, eight Paleolithic sites and four other possible ones have been identified in the Central Ryukyus (Amami and Okinawa Archipelagos) in the last four decades. Were these Paleolithic groups direct ancestors of modern peoples who currently live in the region? Recent studies in archaeology and other related fields have shown that colonization processes in the Central Ryukyus were complex. It has been suggested that the islands’ initial successful colonizers were people who migrated there during the later part of the Early 3 to Early 4 Periods; however, recent studies and findings do not support this hypothesis. Currently, the Early 1, pre-Early 1, and Paleolithic hypotheses seem to be the most acceptable regarding the timing of initial colonization of the islands. Whatever the case, there appears to have been a second major population influx at the end of the Shellmidden or initial Gusuku Period.