Course Description

The culture of the Japanese archipelago starts from the Palaeolithic period. In the prehistoric era, since it is a preliterate society, relics such as earthenware and stone tools, remains such as pit-dwellings and grave holes are the main materials in researching culture. Also, in historical era, relics and remains are valuable materials. In the course of Introduction to Archaeology, economic and social activities from the Palaeolithic period to the Kohun period are examined from the archaeological materials, and the continuity and discontinuity of the Japanese culture is outlined. In addition, the originarity and diversity of the culture, changes in the spaciotemporal culture and its factors are introduced.
The spring course introduces students to the purpose and method of archaeology, evolution of mankind and its dispersal from the African continent to the Japanese archipelago through the Asian continent, and diversity of the Palaeolithic cultures in Japan exploring the archaeological material remains.