Takayuki Shinzato
Principal Investigator
Professor, College of Global and Regional Culture, Okinawa International University
Project Overview
I have conducted research of the shell midden period (Jomon - Heian periods) in the Ryukyu Islands. I have been studying the stylistic structure and inter-regional relationships in the study of potteries chronology, and through research on the distribution of stone tools, stone ornaments, shell ornaments and metal wares, I have studied the chronological transition of exchange and trade activities and the prehistoric funerary tomb system. Recently, I have been carrying out basic work on the Tokara Islands, the smallest island in the Ryukyu Archipelago, to understand regional characteristics based on the results of excavation and surface collection surveys.
In this open research project, I will carry out human history surveys and research on cave sites in Okinawa. At the Futenmagu Cave Site, where we are currently excavating, we have even identified human activity dating about 30,000 years old. In order to accumulate data that should contribute to the study of human history on the islands and the construction of academic change research and integrated bioarchaeology, I will also work on various analyses with the help of the professors of this scientific research fund.
