Abstract
Manose Lowland has attracted archaeologist’s and historian’s attention because of its importance in maritime transfer along the western coast of Kyushu Island. This lowland is divided into two zones: seaward coastal dune and landward abandoned lagoon. The northern part of abandoned lagoon area is wide swamp comprising peat. By contrast, natural levee develops remarkably in the southern part. The tephrochronology (based on Kaimondake-4) and distribution pattern of shell mounds in the northern part show that the majority of lagoon had been filled up by the Final Jomon Period. Recent excavating surveys have cleared that four archaeological sites locate on natural levee in the southern part, and that the beginning ages of each site precede in the direction from upstream to downstream. These arrange indicates that ancient people started to use lowland soon after the emergence of utilizable land in the transition process from lagoon to flood plain. Lagoon or river-mouth harbour is considered to provide the nucleus for lowland use, which developed corresponding to changes in coastal environment, during the Former Jomon Period to the medieval period in the Manose Lowland.
