Japanese Journal of Historical Botany

Rhus verniciｆｌua Stokes grew in Japan since the Early Jomon Period

Shuichi Noshiro, Mitsuo Suzuki

2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 3-11
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2021

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.34596/hisbot.12.1_3

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In Japan lacquer made of the latex of Rhus verniciflua was used since 9000 cal B.P. of the Earliest Jomon Period. Since this period many examples of lacquer ware and remains of lacquer processing have been found throughout Japan. However, there was no botanical evidence that Rhus verniciflua trees grew in Japan. Recently, fossil woods of R. verniciflua were reported at several sites. Rhus fossils have been identified into several species groups based on qualitative features, but the distinction between R. trichocarpa and R. verniciflua was not studied critically. By comparing mature woods of these two species and studying ontogenetic trends in R. verniciflua, we found that the wood of R. verniciflua tends to be semi-ring-porous with larger vessels and wider rays up to 4 cells wide, while that of R. trichocarpa tends to be ring-porous. Re-identification of Rhus fossil woods so far reported based on these features showed that R. verniciflua grew in middle to northern Honshu since the Early Jomon Period. Wood of R. verniciflua was used as stakes, boards, or bowls, and this tree seemed to have been planted close to settlements for lacquer collection and timber usage since that period.

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An introduction to integrated studies on chestnuts in the Jomon Period

Mitsuo Suzuki

2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 13-14
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2021

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.34596/hisbot.12.1_13

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An experimental archaeological study of wood utilization during the Jomon Period

experimental felling of trees with stone axes in the Kawatabi Experimental Farm of Tohoku University

Yuichiro Kudo

2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 15-28
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2021

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.34596/hisbot.12.1_15

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An experimental archaeological research was carried out on clear-cutting of a secondary forest consisted of deciduous broad-leaved trees with polished stone axes and iron axes. The data were obtained for 178 trees felled with stone axes and 22 trees felled with the iron axes. The experiment showed that the felling efficiency of the polished stone axes of the Jomon Period changed between tree species. Among Castanea, Quercus, Prunus and Acer, Castanea was the easiest to cut down. Between stone axes and iron axes, the number of strokes needed to cut down trees of the same size was one-fourth with iron axes. It is important to estimate the efficiency of stone axes with such usage experiment in order to clarify selection of wood species utilized during the Jomon Period.

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Usewear of polished stone axes of the Jomon Period deduced from a felling experiment of Castanea crenata and other broad-leaved trees

Rasa Miyama

2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 29-36
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2021

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.34596/hisbot.12.1_29

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We carried out an experiment on felling trees with two types of stone axes which either have a straight haft or a knee haft. The purpose of this experiment was to reveal the effect of polished stone axes and to clarify how damage is formed on the edge of stone axes by cutting Castanea crenata and other broad-leaved trees. This usage experiment showed that edge damages such as microflakings and abrasions concentrated on the back angle of the stone axes attached to a knee type haft, while edge damages occurred uniformly from the back to front angles in the stone axes attached to a straight type haft. Moreover, usewear was more marked on the edge of stone axes when used on broad-leaved trees than on Castanea crenata. These results indicated that the strength of wood and the type of stone axes affect the formation of usewear on the edge of stone axes.

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Utilization of forest resources in the Late Jomon Period deduced from wooden remains for water usage at the Shimo-yakebe Site, Tokyo, Japan

Yuka Sasaki, Shuichi Noshiro

2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 37-46
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2021

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.34596/hisbot.12.1_37

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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.

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SSR markers in Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata)

Toshiya Yamamoto

2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 47-52
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2021

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.34596/hisbot.12.1_47

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SSRs (simple sequence repeats, also called as microsatellites) are one of the highly informative DNA markers essential for genetic studies both in animal and plant species, i.e., estimation of genetic diversity, parentage analysis, and the construction of genetic linkage maps. SSRs offer several advantages over other molecular markers, which provide a reliable method for genetic analyses, such as their codominant inheritance, high degree of polymorphism, large number of genotypes (alleles) per locus, abundance in genomes, and suitability for automation. Fifteen SSR loci were developed in Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata Sieb et Zucc.) using an enriched genomic library for (AG) / (TC). The SSR loci obtained produced 1–16 alleles per locus and showed 0.47 of average values of the observed heterozygosity, 0.50 of the expected heterozygosity, and 0.62 of the power of discrimination. Genetic relationship was evaluated for 30 Japanese chestnut varieties using 14 polymorphic SSR loci, and the result showed no distinct differences on allele composition between Japanese and Korean origins as well as between cultivated and wild natures. SSR loci developed in the Japanese chestnut could be successfully transferable to other Castanea species.

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Re-evaluation of tree species for Japanese ancient wooden statues

Mitsuo Suzuki

2004 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 53-54
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: June 16, 2021

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.34596/hisbot.12.1_53

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