The onset, dispersal and crop preferences of early agriculture in the Japanese archipelago as derived from seed impressions in pottery

This paper summarises the results of 225 studies seed impressions in pottery assemblages from 182 archaeological sites across Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu islands covering Late/Final Jomon–Middle Yayoi period (ca. 2000–1 BCE). Focussing on rice, foxtail millet broomcorn impressions, this archaeobotanical dataset was used to reconstruct when where these crops arrived Eurasian mainland islands, how they dispersed whether there were changes crop preferences over time. While it is generally accepted that cultivation started during Initial 800/700–500/400 BCE) northern a limited number Tottaimon phase 1 suggests rice present at different Kyushu Chugoku region even before period. The earliest impression records also corroborate hypothesis along with both crops, which for long time have not been considered research early agriculture. eastern Japan (here Central Highlands Honshu) come Fusenmon pottery, mainly (central some adjacent areas, dating End Final Jomon (concurrent Kyushu). western Kinki region) associated suggest mixed rice/millet part Early 800/700–300 period, groups appear preferred millet. In Japan, related spread Ongagawa became dominant late shift happened later (i.e., Middle period; ca. 300–1 Japan. ‘delay’ manifested Tokai representing transitional area between Rice-centred agriculture begun arrival Nobi Plain regions east plain settled by Jokonmon more rice-oriented evident An exceptional development indicated Tohoku (northernmost Honshu). Impression Sunazawa local adopted only preference apparently continued into but abandoned beginning Late