When did the Jōmon period begin and end?
The Incipient phase of the Jōmon period began around 13,750 BCE and concluded around 500 BCE. Recent findings suggest the Final phase may have ended as late as 300 BCE.
Questions about Jōmon period
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What are the six phases of the Jōmon period timeline?
Archaeologists divide the Jōmon period into six distinct phases: Incipient, Initial, Early, Middle, Late, and Final. These phases span from approximately 13,750 BCE to 500 BCE or potentially 300 BCE based on recent discoveries.
Where were the earliest Jōmon pottery fragments discovered?
Small fragments dated to approximately 16,000 years ago were found at the Odai Yamamoto I site in 1998. Pottery of roughly the same age was subsequently discovered at other locations including Kamikuroiwa and the Fukui cave.
How much genetic ancestry do modern Japanese people carry from the Jōmon population?
Modern Japanese people carry approximately 30% paternal ancestry from the Jōmon but only around 15% maternal contribution. Autosomal contribution stands at roughly 10% according to genetic studies.
Which regions of Japan did not experience the Jōmon period?
The Jōmon period does not apply to Okinawa and the Ryukyu Isles where common chronology uses the Shellmidden Period or the Sakishima Prehistoric Period specifically for the island. Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku saw the Jōmon people replaced by related groups called Zoku-Jomon who ushered in the unique Zoku-Jōmon Period.