Idojiri

A group of about 50 Middle and Late Jomon sites in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The sites are large clusters of substantial pit houses. The pottery has molded rim ornamentation, and there are figurines and ceremonial stone arrangements. It is thought that the inhabitants practiced plant cultivation, nut-collecting, and hunting.

A group of about 50 Middle and Late Jomon sites in the mountainous area of central Honshu, Japan. The sites are large clusters of substantial pit houses. Pottery with moulded rim ornamentation, numerous figurines, and curious stone arrangements suggest a well-developed ceremonialism. There are well-worn grinding slabs and chipped stone celts which could have served either for cutting trees or digging soil. Carbonized cakes of vegetable matter were found. It has long been suspected that the inhabitants practised cultivation as well as nut-collecting and gamehunting.