Tag: History

From Villages to Kingdoms

July 30, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on From Villages to Kingdoms
Season 2, Episode 2: From Villages to Kingdoms
Bronze spearheads from Kyushu dating to the 1-2c CE. Source: I, PHGCOM / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
A Dotaku bell unearthed in Shizuoka prefecture, which is located just to the east of Kansai. Clusters of these bells buried on hilltops throughout central Honshu may have been part of a ritual to ratify alliances between clans. Source: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Bronze swords excavated from the Yoshinogari site. Katanas are still hundreds of years away, but these would certainly get the job done. Source: Pekachu / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

The Yayoi Way

July 27, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Yayoi Way
Season 2, Episode 1: The Yayoi Way
Burial Jars from the Yoshinogari Site. Public Domain.
A stone knife from the Yayoi period on display at the Nagoya City Miharashidai Archaeological Museum. Source: KKPCW / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Check out the webpage of the Yoshinogari Site for more pictures and history!

All About Pottery!

June 22, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on All About Pottery!
Two vessels from the Incipient Jomon Period (11,000-7,000 BCE). Note the relative simplicity, the designs adding only a subtle accent to the overall work. Attrib: Ismoon (talk) (merci Gaspard !) / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A pot from the Middle Jōmon Period (2,500-1,500 BCE). Note the extensive applique, the texturized spaces. Attrib.: I, Sailko / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Another Middle Jōmon Vessel, this one decorated in the “flame style.” Attrib.: しんぎんぐきゃっと / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A Dogū Figurine from Tōhoku (Far Northeastern Honshu), circa 1,000-400 BCE. Attrib.: World Imaging / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Tōkyo National Museum Jōmon Exhibit – Lots of great pictures of various items which the Jōmon people used every day, including wooden baskets, pottery, Dogū

Cleveland Museum of Art Jōmon Pottery – Great virtual exhibit of Jōmon pottery from various angles, as well as helpful descriptions of their uses.

Chino City Jōmon Page – A pleasant English-language walkthrough of the Jōmon Period with lots of relevant artifacts unearthed in Nagano Prefecture.

The Paleolithic and Jōmon Periods

June 15, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on The Paleolithic and Jōmon Periods

The first episode is now live! IT LIVES!

I got to read a lot of academic articles for this, which was fun. I wish I could go into more detail regarding plant husbandry and Jōmon religion, but a lot of it is still speculation. It’s probably fair to assume a bit of overlap between the Ainu and the Jōmon regarding rituals and cultural practices but, again, there’s still a lot we don’t know for sure about this period.

Sannai-Maruyama Site Official Webpage – Explore the site I mentioned in the podcast from the comfort of your screen! Lots of great photos and information!

Jōmon Archaeological Sites – A fantastic page featuring loads of photos and information of various Jōmon sites throughout Japan!

Hope you enjoyed the episode!