◯Hideaki KANZAWA (National Museum of Nature and Science), Kousaku NAKAMURA (National Museum of Japanese History), Akira SEIKE (Okayama University), Tatsuhiko HAMADA (Meiji University), Shiori YONEMOTO (Kyushu University), Noboru ADACHI (University of Yamanashi), Tsuneo KAKUDA (University of Yamanashi), Shinichiro FUJIO (National Museum of Japanese History), Takuma YOSHIOKA (Saitama City Board of Education), Masahiro FUKUNAGA (Kyushu University) , Hirotsune NISHIMURA (Matsudo City Museum), Yukina WATANABE (Kyoto University)
１．Summary of FY2023
Group B04 aims to elucidate the human history of prehistoric humans in the Japanese archipelago by comprehensively understanding the process of group formation and inter-regional networks during the Jomon to Kofun periods using methods from the fields of biological anthropology (ancient human genome and morphology) and archaeology (remains and artifacts). Since this is the first year of the project, we have focused on borrowing samples and collecting basic data necessary for the research. Details are given below. In addition, online group meetings were held three times to share progress.
２．Progress of Genome Analysis (Kanzawa, Adachi, Kakuda)
This year, we conducted genome analysis of many ancient human remains, continuing from the Yaponesia Genome Project. In addition, a total of 49 human remains from the Jomon to Kofun periods were newly sampled for genome analysis. DNA experiments have already been started on about half of these, and some have been completed up to APLP analysis and whole genome sequencing. Most of the DNA extracted from ancient human remains is mostly derived from soil bacteria, and human DNA derived from human remains accounts for only a small percentage. Therefore, the efficient acquisition of sequence information in ancient human genome analysis requires enriching human DNA with target enrichment. This fiscal year, the target enrichment kit from the manufacturer we had been using (Daicel Arbor Biosciences) was suddenly discontinued, necessitating an urgent shift to the kit of Twist Bioscience. As a result, the original experimental schedule had to be extended by about 5 months, and the 1.1 million yen for outsourcing the sequencing was carried over to the next fiscal year. In the next fiscal year, we will proceed to genome analysis of already borrowed samples and borrow new samples. In addition, samples that require isotope analysis will be proceeded in cooperation with group A03.
３．Examination of regional characteristics of the Jomon period (Nakamura, Yoshioka, Fukunaga, Nishimura, Watanabe)
The regional characteristics of the Jomon period have been examined based on the distribution range of pottery and other artifacts. With the progress of research, the situation in the center of each cultural area has been clarified in detail, but the situation in the peripheral area remains unclear in many areas. For example, a large distribution area of the Late Middle Layer has been conventionally indicated as "Kasori B style pottery," but in reality, although it has been clarified that the first half is strongly connected to the Kansai area and the second half to the Tohoku area, there is insufficient research on the boundary areas such as the Central and Southern Tohoku regions. In particular, the Chubu region is also the border between western and eastern Japan, and it is necessary to examine the relationship between human skeletal and genetic data and archaeological cultural data. In this study, researchers from eastern and western Japan will jointly examine this situation from the perspective of both small regional trends represented by everyday earthenware and broad interregional networks represented by ceremonial earthenware.
This year, we have completed the collection of Late Period ritual earthenware, mainly pour-mouth earthenware, and have largely completed the eastern Kanto and western Japan areas. In addition, we continued our survey of important unmapped materials in preparation for their illustration and reporting. We plan to continue the collection and research in the next fiscal year, aiming to publish the collection and make it available on the Rekihaku database within the term of the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research. In addition, Nakamura and his collaborators are scheduled to speak at a symposium on October 5, 2024, in conjunction with an exhibition on ritual earthenware planned by Nishimura of the Matsudo City Museum, one of his research collaborators.
４．Survey of Yayoi period materials in the Kanmon and San'in regions (Hamada)
In order to elucidate the extensive network of the Yayoi period in the San'in region from the Kanmon area, we examine (1) interregional exchange during the beginning of the Yayoi period (2) the extensive network after the middle of the Yayoi period.
(1) this year we conducted carbon-14 dating of pottery from Shimonoseki City and Yonago City (upper figure), using carbon-14 dating and carbon-nitrogen stable isotope ratio analysis of charcoal from pottery-attached seed indentations, and we are beginning to obtain some results. In the next fiscal year and beyond, we plan to examine how the Jomon and Ongagawa pottery were intermingled and how grains migrated eastward by sorting out the accompanying relationships between Jomon and Ongagawa pottery. (2) we will continue to examine this issue since the 20th excavation of the Aoya Kamijichi site conducted by the prefecture this year has resulted in an increase in the number of human remains. In addition, the investigation of archaeological materials excavated so far points out that people and objects gathered at the Aoya Kamijichi site from many directions. From the next fiscal year onward, with the Aoya Kamijichi site as the core, we will reexamine the nature of non-territorial artifacts and organize them by linking them to genomic information.
５．Construction of a database of human skeletal remains in the collection of Kyushu University Museum and reexamination of "the migratory traits" (Yonemoto)
We are reorganizing and reexamining the Yayoi period human skeletons in the collections of the Kyushu University Museum, constructing a database, and creating 3D images of them. In the next fiscal year, we plan to conduct a comparative analysis of human remains excavated from the Otomo Site and other northern Kyushu groups, with a particular focus on facial traits, for which DNA analysis has been progressing and is producing results. At the Hirota Site, sampling is being conducted from each of the three phases for genome analysis: Lower Paleo, Lower Neopaleo, and Upper Neopaleo. As the Lower Paleo to Lower Neogene phases, populations with different strontium isotope ratios emerge, and populations with previous values are no longer observed, suggesting possible interaction with the surrounding area, which will be additionally examined in the future. In addition, since the upper human remains have rarely been examined so far, we will continue to examine them from the next fiscal year onward.
６．Investigation of burial attributes along the Pacific coast during the Kofun period (Seike)
Regarding the Kofun period, Yaponesia Genomics collected human remains from Kofun tombs in the Kinai, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu regions, and examined burial attributes along with DNA analysis. In Integrative Bioarchaeology, we will further this research in the Tokai and Chubu regions.
In particular, we will investigate the burial attributes of the Pacific coast and clarify the unique network of the seashore population in combination with genome analysis. This year, human remains excavated from Late Kofun period to Terminal period Yokoana (Uto and Tennogaya Yokoana) tombs in Shizuoka Prefecture were sampled for genome analysis.
Currently, Adachi is proceeding with DNA experiments. In the next fiscal year, we plan to coordinate the genome analysis of human remains from the Yayoi - Kofun period in Shikoku, the Yayoi period in the Kinai region, and the Kofun period in the Tokai region.