Insect larvae impressions on pottery excavated from Middle and Late Jomon sites in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

This purpose of this paper is to provide a new line of evidence for the study of Jomon foodways and subsistence. Specifically, we report the results of a quantitative analysis of plant and insect impressions on pottery excavated from Middle and Late Jomon sites in Aomori Prefecture of the northern Tohoku Region, Japan. Previously, very few impression studies have been conducted in the northern Tohoku Region, with a notable exception of Obata’s work at the Sannai Maruyama site, Aomori Prefecture. Samples were collected from five representative Early to Late Jomon sites in Aomori Prefecture: Saibana, Tominosawa No. 2, Nakanodaira, Tsukinoki No. 1 and Shitsukari Abe. While no plant seed impressions were identified, two insect larvae impressions were recovered. The first insect larvae impression is from the Saibana site and is identified as Plesiophthalmus nigrocyaneus, a type of mealworm. The second one is from the Tominosawa No. 2 site and is likely to be Cerambycidae. Given that both of these larvae typically perforate decaying logs or wood deep in the forest, it is unlikely that these worms are commonly present in the living environment of the residents of these sites. Instead, we suggest that these larvae may have been intentionally introduced into the site, potentially as food items.