Chōshichiyachi Shell Midden
Choshichiyachi Kaizuka · 長七谷地貝塚
Middle to Late Jomon 3500–1700 BCE·Middle–Late Jomon (Hachinohe wetland)·🇯🇵 Aomori Prefecture, Hachinohe City, Chōshichiyachi wetland near Korekawa (Nii River floodplain), Japan
About
About Chōshichiyachi Shell Midden
Middle–Late Jomon wetland shell midden (c.3500–1700 BCE) adjacent to Korekawa at Chōshichiyachi, Hachinohe — 2 ha midden (Corbicula and yamato shijimi) 3 m thick with 20+ pit dwellings and waterlogged preservation of wooden baskets, lacquered bows and cordage excavated 1979–2001. Chōshichiyachi is renowned for waterlogged wooden artifacts: 10 complete Jomon wooden bows (yew) and 5 lacquered baskets, among oldest Japan bows; UNESCO Jomon component (1632) as lacquer-midden pair with Korekawa.
Why it mattersOldest complete wooden bows (yew) in Japan (3000 BCE); waterlogged wood preservation unique in Jomon serial.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why yew bows here — northern forest management?
Theories
- 01Wetland Jomon bow–lacquer craft specialization paired with Korekawa
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.3500 BCE Middle Jomon; midden peak 3000–1700 BCE
- Period
- Middle to Late Jomon 3500–1700 BCE
- Culture
- Middle–Late Jomon (Hachinohe wetland)
- Builders
- Jomon wetland fishers (Nii River)
- Purpose
- Waterlogged shell-midden village with lacquerous woodworking
- Abandoned
- c.1500 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1979–2001 Hachinohe City excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.3500 BCE
Middle Jomon pits founded on Nii floodplain
c.3000–1700 BCE
Corbicula midden 3 m thick + waterlogged bows/baskets
2021
UNESCO Choshichiyachi 1632 inscription
On the ground
Structures & features
40.5100° N · 141.4500° E · 15 m · 2 mapped features
Waterlogged wooden bow layer
middenPeat layer with 10 yew bows and 5 lacquered baskets
40.5105° N · 141.4505° EPit-dwelling ridge
settlement20 pit dwellings 4–5 m dia. on adjacent ridge
40.5095° N · 141.4495° E
Gallery