Kitakogane Site
Kitakogane Shell Midden · Kitakogane Iseki
Early to Late Jomon 6000–1000 BCE·Early–Late Jomon (Date, Uchiura Bay)·🇯🇵 Hokkaido, Date City, Kitakogane plateau (Uchiura Bay upland), Japan
About
About Kitakogane Site
Early to Late Jomon marine midden and ritual site (c.6000–1000 BCE) at Date, Hokkaido — 14.4 ha plateau site with massive shell mound (oyster, Scallop 3 m thick, 2500 m³), 70+ pit dwellings, lacquer workshop and ceremonial pit with clay figurines and grave goods (jade magatama). Excavated 1959–2015, Kitakogane demonstrates Jomon Bay–highland exchange: oyster from Uchiura Bay 2 km away plus upland deer and forest nuts; UNESCO Jomon component (1632-003).
Why it mattersBay–highland ecotone Jomon model; bridges marine (Kitakogane) and inland (Kiusu) Hokkaido Jomon adaptations.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why jade magatama here — Honshu trade?
Theories
- 01Uchiura Bay resource intensification supporting permanent plateau village
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.6000 BCE Early Jomon; midden peak 4000–1000 BCE
- Period
- Early to Late Jomon 6000–1000 BCE
- Culture
- Early–Late Jomon (Date, Uchiura Bay)
- Builders
- Jomon coastal-foragers (Uchiura Bay)
- Purpose
- Coastal midden–ritual settlement controlling bay–highland ecotone
- Abandoned
- c.400 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1959 Date City excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.6000 BCE
Early Jomon pits founded on Date plateau
c.4000–1000 BCE
70 pits, shell midden 3 m thick, lacquer workshop, figurine pits
2021
UNESCO Jomon Prehistoric Sites 1632-003 inscription
On the ground
Structures & features
42.4022° N · 140.9117° E · 50 m · 2 mapped features
Shell mound slope
midden3 m oyster/scallop shell mound facing Uchiura Bay
42.4025° N · 140.9115° ECeremonial pit with figurines
ritual depositPit with clay figurines and jade magatama grave goods
42.4018° N · 140.9120° E
Gallery