Jomon of Japan

Project 2 – Donovan Brigham

The Oldest Pottery in the world

• Japan 10,000 BC• Siberia 9,000 BC• China 8,000 - 6,500BC • Western Asia 7,600 BC• Korea 6,000 – 4,500 BC• South America 4,000 BC

Edward Morse discovered earthenware pots

near Tokyo in 1877. He labeled them cord-

marked, which was later translated into Jomon.

Pottery was first created when the people transitioned from hunter-gatherer to sedentary groups.

The earliest Jomon Pottery was used primarily for cooking and storage.

Jomon Phases

• Incipient 10,000 – 7,500 BC

• Initial 7,500 – 4,500 BC

• Early 4,500 – 3,000 BC

• Middle 3,000 – 2,000 BC

• Late 2,000 – 1,000 BC

• Final 1,000 – 300 BC

The Original