2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 37-46
To clarify how Castanea crenata was actually used in the Jomon Period, it is necessary to study the usage of wood supplied within a site unit and to perform a comprehensive interpretation of its use together with that of fruits. Timber usage for No. 7 wooden remains for water usage at the Shimo-yakebe Site in Tokyo was studied in relation to species selection and timber processing. The main structure was formed with 12 Castanea crenata and one Quercus sect. Aegilops timbers. Among 225 stakes, Castanea crenata occupied 60%, followed by 21 other taxa. Lumber of Castanea crenata and Quercus sect. Aegilops was mostly split woods from trees 10–20 cm in diameter, whereas that of the other taxa was round woods with an average diameter of less than 10 cm. The conspicuous use of Castanea crenata was backed by its wood quality such as straight grain and durability and its ample resources in the surrounding forests. The present study indicates that plant usage during the Late Jomon Period was multi-layered with fruit usage of Aesculus turbinata and Juglans mandshurica Maxim. var. sachalinensis (Miyabe et Kudo) Kitam. over the dominant, fruits and timber usage of Castanea crenata.
