On the Excavation of Fumonji Site, Tochigi Prefecture

Abstract

The site called Fumonji, Tochigi Pref., lies in the Suburbs of Kiryu City. Our digging work was made in the period from Feb. 20 to Mar 5, 1948. At 60-80cm deep underground were inbedded the most early type of Jomon Pottery sherds and above these, namely in the middle or upper layer we also found three different parts of a dwelling dug in the Loam, probably of the Moroiso type. More than three thousands pieces intact or broken pebbeles, half or full worked stone implements and sherds of pottery were collected separately from the all eighteen 2-meters squares and 4 layers representing each main part of the site.Stone used for these implements as materials, are mainly identified to be Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks, such as chert for blade tools, sandstone for axes, and igneous rocks, such as obsidian for arrowpoints, andesite and basalt for axes and hammer stone, etc. Technically remarkable points with these is that only angular flakes were produced, and marginal chipping is all dominant. Sometimes polishing and sawing are witnessed given for axes. The types and forms are classified as follows (see Fig. 2) :Miscellaneous pebbles and boulders unclassificable as artifacts 980Cores utilized for the production of angular flakes 65Raw angular flakes of small and medium size 681Apparently utilized angular flakes 33Flakes with more or less chipped margins 32Flakes with marginal chipping 9Arrow points and spear heads 30Axes 15Potteries of the earliest Jomon types are presented : 1) A simple type with no pattern. 2) A type of twisted cord patterns. 3) Sherds with roll-stamped patterns. 4) Mito type. 5) Upper Tado type. 6) Lower Tado type. 7) Shiboguchi type. 8) Kayama type. Generally speaking roll-stamped patters, Kayama, Kurohama and Moroiso-types form the principal part of the whole materials (see Table 3 & 4).Of the earlier Jomon type are found : 1) Lower Hanazumi type. 2) Sekiyama type. 3) Kurohama type. 4) Moroiso type. The sherds of middle and later Jomon types and Yayoi types are rarely to be found.