On the Human Skeletons of Yoyoi Period Excavated at the Sites in North-Western Kyushu

Abstract

In the course of several excavations carried out from 1964 to 1969, some 100 skeletal remains were obtained from the burial sites in north-western Kyushu. These can be dated definitely to middle and early Yayoi period of prehistoric Japan.Among the skeletal remains collected, the skulls (_??_: 21, _??_:15) and right femurs (_??_:16, _??_:8) were examined anthropologically by the present author.The main characteristics of these skeletons can be summarized as follows.1) The skulls of the Yayoi ancients of north-western Kyushu are mesocephalic, orthocephalic and metriocephalic in both sexes. In respect of the averages main calvarial mesurement and indicies, in both sexes, there are no significant difference among the Yayoi people of north-western Kyushu, Mitsu and Doigahama and Jomon people of Tsukumo.2) The Yayoi people of north-western Kyushu are in both sexes lower in facial and upper facial height than the Mitsu and Doigahama Yayoi people. The mean values of the bizygo-matic and middle facial breadth of both sexes are shown to that in Mitsu and Doigahama. Therefore, the averages facial and upper facial index in north-western Kyushu are shown, in both sexes, to be smaller than that in Mitsu and Doigahama.Concerning all facial measurements and indicies, the Yayoi people of north-western Kyushu are, in both sexes, relatively similar to Jomon people of Tsukumo.3) The maximum length of the right femurs, as determined by Pearson's method, suggests that the Yayoi ancients of north-western Kyushu must have averaged 158.79 cm high for males and 147.91 cm high for females.Concerning estimated stature, the Yayoi people of north-western Kyushu, in both sexes, similar to Tsukumo Jomon people but is shorter tha Yayoi people of Mitsu and Doigahama. 9) The Yayoi skeletons from the sites of north-western Kyushu are characterized by a low face and short stature, namely, they show appearances of Jomon type rather than Yayoi (northern Kyushu) type.