Abstract
Most twisted cords of the Jomon period so far found were made of the petiole and rachis of Arachniodes
standishii (T. Moore) Ohwi. As a crossed cord and bundles of materials, Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn
subsp. japonicum (Nakai) Á. et D. Löve was also found, but not as twisted cords. To examine the material selection
for twisted cord making during the Jomon period, we made cords with the petioles and rachides of Arachniodes
standishii and Pteridium aquilinum subsp. japonicum in different stages of leaf growth. We found that subepidermal
sterome composed twisted cords made with these fern species and that cords made with Arachniodes
standishii had less tears and more even twists than those made with Pteridium aquilinum subsp. japonicum.
Keywords: Arachniodes standishii, experimental cord making, Jomon period, Pteridium aquilinum subsp. japonicum,
twisting
