Kakura:
A circular settlement dotted with large-scale dwellings

Large-scale embedded-pillar building remains (from the south)
This building was 4 spans lengthwise (10 m) by 1 transverse span (5 m). The pillar holes are roughly 80 cm in diameter, up to 1 m deep, and have traces of pillars about 40 cm across. From the scale it was possibly a raised-floor structure, comprising the settlement in conjunction with dwellings.

Slit stone earring Resembles a jue, one type of Chinese precious stone object. Soapstone, 3.3 cm long.

Large-scale pit-dwelling remains (from the south) This large-scale dwelling, its long and narrow shape expanding at the middle and being close in shape to a ship viewed from above, is 18 m long and 3.5 m wide. It was rebuilt several times, and has a row of open fireplaces lined up at its center. It is the largest dwelling known for Miyagi Prefecture.

Double-edged stone club

Stone scraper

Fig-shaped clay object Four items were recovered. Discoveries are extremely rare. Possibly used in ritual, 8.9 cm long.

Tanged stone scraper

Deep bowl

Deep bowl

Deep bowl

Kakura Shell Midden, Tsukidate Town, Miyagi Prefecture

MIYOSHI Hideki

The Kakura Shell Midden is located atop a long ridge running east-west to the northwest of the Izu swamp in Miyagi Prefecture. The northern half of this site was excavated in FY 1999 and 2000, and the remains of a settlement dating from the latter third of the Early to the initial third of the Middle Jōmon periods were found. Subsequently, in order to obtain an overall image of the site, confirmatory excavations were conducted in the southern part of the site in FY 2001 and 2002.

The principal archaeological features consist of the remains of approximately 150 pit-dwellings, about 30 embedded-pillar buildings, and approximately 220 pits (for storage); a wide variety of artifacts were also recovered, beginning with pottery, stone tools, and clay figurines, an extremely rare slit stone earring, fig-shaped clay objects and other items, and animal bones.

Pit-dwelling remains include both rectangular and square shaped examples. The former are common, and among them are 10 large-scale dwellings between 10 and 18 meters long. All of the hearths are open fireplaces, and structures with holes for main pillars at several points parallel to the long axis of the building in the form of 1 by 3 or 4 spans, plus those with holes for pillars of walls to support the roof, are known.

For embedded-pillar buildings, 1 transverse by 3 or 4 lengthwise spans are common. Among them are large-scale structures 4-5 m across by 9-10 m in length, and traces left by pillars include examples up to 30 and 40 cm in diameter. As these pillars are very large in comparison with those of other buildings or the main pillars of dwellings, they possibly represent a raised-floor structure.

These large and small structures existed simultaneously, and together were distributed in an arc surrounding a central plaza. Clusters of storage pits are located at several points around the periphery, and it is clear that the settlement was circular in form. Further, the large-scale dwellings and other buildings were repeatedly rebuilt at the same positions, and this location was utilized over a long period within the settlement for a single purpose. It may be inferred that this site was a large core settlement during this period.

---