The Sannai-Maruyama Site is one of the largest Jomon settlements in Japan and has been designated as a Special Historic Site by the national government. excavations since 1992 have uncovered a series of traces of life in the area, including the remains of pit houses, graves, and storage pits from that period, and nearly 2,000 items have been designated as Important Cultural Properties.
The ruins include the “Jomon Jiyuukan,” 15 reconstructed pit houses, a large pit house, three stilt buildings, and a large hottate-bashira building. There are also a variety of hands-on activities such as making maga-dama (clay figurines) and miniature clay figurines.
The Ancient Romance of the Jomon Period Revived: Explore with Volunteer Guided Tours
To explore Jomon ruins brought back to life in the modern age, we recommend taking a tour with a volunteer guide. The tour takes about one hour, and the excitement will spread as you are surrounded by the ancient romance of long ago.
Synergy with the Aomori Museum of Art: A Feast of Ruins and Art
The adjacent Aomori Museum of Art is a geometrically incised ground, with its architecture reflecting the inspiration from the excavation site of the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins.
Enjoy the synergy of the ruins and the museum. The bunker-like space of the ruins and the feast of art will enchant visitors. Please enjoy them together.
Unearthed artifacts shrouded in mystery: Jomon jewelry and trading goods
It is said that the artifacts excavated from the Sannai-Maruyama site amount to tens of thousands of cardboard boxes. While the majority of the artifacts are earthenware and stoneware, Japan’s largest plate-shaped clay figurines and many stone products have also been discovered.
In addition, obsidian, amber, lacquerware, and jade beads were excavated from various regions of Japan. 1,958 excavated artifacts have been designated as National Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
In particular, since Itoigawa is the main source of jade, its excavation is considered proof of trade with the Joetsu area. In addition, flat-bottomed cylindrical earthenware and urn-shaped earrings have been pointed out as having similarities with the Liaohe civilization (Xinglongkubo culture) of mainland China.
A Brief History of Food Culture: Food and Animal Remains of the Jomon People
Rabbits and flying squirrels make up nearly 70% of the animal remains excavated from the Sannai-Maruyama site, rather than the more common deer and wild boar. What can be inferred from this is the possibility that the inhabitants of this site consumed the meat of hares and flying squirrels as food.
It is also thought that the background of their dietary habits may have been the depletion of the deer and wild boar resources that supported the huge settlement.
Evidence of Advanced Technology and Unity: The Mystery of the Six-Pillar Building
The most important remains at the Sannai-Maruyama Site are the remains of a six-pillar building. It should be noted that not only the size of the pillars, but also the spacing, width, and depth of the pillar holes are all uniform.
This indicates that surveying techniques existed at that time, suggesting that the inhabitants of this village had advanced skills.
In particular, the spacing between the pillars is 4.2 meters, and the fact that this unit has been confirmed at other sites suggests that a common unit of length, also known as the “Jomon shaku,” may have existed.
Furthermore, a large amount of labor was required to construct such a large building, suggesting the existence of a cohesive community and precise leadership. The pillars themselves were also equipped with techniques to prevent corrosion, allowing them to be preserved for a long time.
The pillars of this building were made of chestnut wood and were tilted using a technique known as uchikorobi, although the specific reason for this is still a mystery.