Sanmaru Museum - part 1

As I wrote in the previous post, hubby and I visited Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site in Aomori City on 23rd December 2016. The archaeological site is the largest and one of the most complete and best preserved Jomon period village in Japan. After the excavation and study of the site by archaeologists in 1994, the village ruins were reburied with earth for preservation. First we visited the grounds of the actual site where a number of reconstructed pit-dwellings, large pit-dwellings, pillar-supported buildings, and a large tower were built on top of the preserved site. We loved visiting the reconstructed structures to get a sense of bygone olden times. After finishing the tour of the archaeological site, we went to a modern building named Jomon Jiyukan located adjacent to the site and had lunch. Then we visited a museum named Sanmaru Museum located inside the building itself. The museum has artifacts related to or excavated from the archaeological site, about which I will write in this post.

Sanmaru Museum is located inside Jomon Jiyukan building that stands adjacent to Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site. This indoor museum was opened in 2010. The museum exhibits ruins, objects, and artifacts excavated from the archaeological site. All the excavated items and collected ruins are comprehensively and systematically arranged and introduced inside the museum. In fact, the museum exhibits approximately 1700 artifacts including approximately 500 important cultural properties excavated from the archaeological site. In addition, the museum has an interesting demonstration of the lifestyle of people who lived during the Jomon period. The museum is divided into two sections. One of the sections is named ‘Jomon no Kokoro’ which means ‘Basics of the Jomon Period’. This section is located to the left side on entering the museum, and has the exhibition of many interesting items like large flat clay figures, large jade beads, large chestnut pillars, earthenware, stone tools, and personal ornaments. The other section is a themed exhibition named ‘Jomonjin no Kurashi wo Himotoku’ which means ‘Understanding the Life of People of Jomon period’. This section is located to the right side of the museum, and reproduces many scenes of the daily lives of Jomon people as conceived by the archaeologists from the excavated articles and objects. The recreated scenes are interestingly done in an easy-to-understand manner by using figures of people wearing Jomon period clothing, fishing, hunting or performing daily tasks. Many ancient excavated pottery and fishing hooks are also displayed in this section. Entrance to Sanmaru Museum is free. Today I will only write about the first section ‘Jomon no Kokoro’ of the museum, and in the next post I will write about the second section.

We entered inside ‘Jomon no Kokoro’ section of Sanmaru Museum and saw the exhibition of many interesting relics and excavated items from the Jomon period. This room was rather dark and had a dramatic dimmed lighting which made the ambience of the room fantastic. The lighting focused only on the exhibited items to make them appealing and interesting. Such lighting really enhanced the impact of the exhibited items.

‘Jomon no Kokoro’ section inside Sanmaru Museum

Arranged in a semicircular fashion in the middle of ‘Jomon no Kokoro’ room, we saw the remains of four large pillars made of big chestnut tree boles that were exhibited inside glass cases. These remains of the pillars were excavated from the Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site and probably formed the pillars of large pillar-supported buildings. Archaeologists have determined all these pillars to be from middle Jomon period (approximately 4200 years ago).

A large pillar from middle Jomon period (4200 years ago)

Another large pillar from the same period

Yet another large pillar from the same period

One more large pillar exhibited from the same period

Right in the middle of the room, surrounded by the above-mentioned four large pillars, we saw the remains of a basket (pochette) from the early Jomon period (approximately 5500 years ago). It was found during the excavation of the archaeological site near the midden mound area. Interestingly, a half shell of walnut was found inside the basket. We noted that the basket was woven in wickerwork-like pattern with bark of coniferous tree. The basket had a height of 16 centimeters and a width of 10 centimeters, and is designated as an important cultural property. The weaving pattern of the basket clearly indicates that the Jomon people possessed high skills and techniques.

Basket (pochette) from early Jomon period (5500 years ago) and is designated as an important cultural property

The basket as viewed from another angle

Next, we saw many excavated items and collected relics exhibited along the walls of the room. We moved around inside the room in a clockwise direction and appreciated all the exhibited items. First we saw the display of pottery from the early to middle Jomon period. We noted that three pots were displayed. The pot to the left was called early stage pottery and was from the early Jomon period (5500 years ago). This pot had cord marking which was decorative and also made the pot less susceptible to cracking when it was fired. The pot exhibited in the middle was called middle stage pottery and was made during the middle Jomon period (5000 years ago). Such pots with simple elevated pinches on their rim are thought to be the earliest forerunners of the spectacular flamboyant style of the latter part of the middle Jomon period. The pot exhibited on the right was also called middle stage pottery but was made during the latter part of the middle Jomon period (4200 years ago). We noted that this third pot had a decorative style where a broad interlinked herringbone pattern, of circles connected by lines, was superimposed upon the comb markings of this pot. The line-and-circle upside-down-V patterns were striking. All the three pots are designated as important cultural properties. We loved looking at these pots in details.

Early stage pottery (5500 years ago, left), middle stage pottery (5000 years ago, middle), latter middle stage pottery (4200 years ago, right), and all are important cultural properties

Then we saw several displays of stone tools, objects, and figurines that were excavated from the archaeological site. We saw the display of stone rods, stone swords, and crown shaped stones. All the stone tools were amazingly shaped and some of the stone objects were rather sharp. Along with the stone tools, we saw an interesting sword-shaped artifact made of whale bone. In addition, we saw a few stone figurines which were very cute. I am including the details about the displays along with the photos below.

Stone rods from middle Jomon period (5000-4000 years ago) and are designated as important cultural properties

The display on the left is a stone artifact shaped like Seiryuto (Chinese broad blade sword) from middle Jomon period (5000-4000 years ago). The display on the right is a sword-shaped artifact made of whale bone from early Jomon period (5500 years ago) and is an important cultural property.

Crown-shaped stones from middle Jomon period (5000-4000 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Many stone objects from middle Jomon period (5000-4000 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Many stone figurines from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4500 years ago)

Next we saw the display of several flat clay figurines that were excavated from the archaeological site. They were made during the early to middle Jomon period (5500-4500 years ago) and a few of them are designated as important cultural properties. Archaeologists are uncertain as to what they represent but the figurines conveyed a sense of mysteriousness and importance to us.

Several flat clay figurines from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4500 years ago)

The next several displays consisted of Jomon people’s jewelries and accessories that were excavated from the archaeological site. We saw a wooden container, large jade beads, a creeper bracelet, a shell bracelet, a braided rope, pendants made from the teeth and whale bones, slit stone earrings, bone hairpins, and several other accessories. I am including the details about the displays along with the photos below.

Wooden container from early Jomon period (5500-5000 years ago)

Large jade beads from middle Jomon period (5000-4000 years ago)

Creeper bracelet (left) and five-braided rope (right), both from early Jomon period (5500 years ago)

Displays of a shell bracelet (upper left), accessories (upper right), pendants made from the teeth (lower left), and pendants made from the whale bone (lower right). All these relics are from early Jomon period (5500 years ago) and are important cultural properties.

On the left is the display of several slit stone earrings from early Jomon period (5500-5000 years ago). On the right is the display of a pair of bone hairpins also from early Jomon period (5500 years ago), and are designated as important cultural properties.

Next, we saw several displays of bone tools that were excavated from the archaeological site. We saw many drills, points, and needles made of bone. We also saw a hammer made from antler and an antler itself. I am including the details about the displays along with the photos below.

A few bone drills from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are designated as important cultural properties

Many bone points from early Jomon period (5500 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Many bone needles from early Jomon period (5500 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Displays of a hammer made from antler (left) and an antler itself (right). Both are from early Jomon period (5500 years ago) and are important cultural properties.

Then followed the display of a large flat clay figurine that was excavated from the archaeological site. It was made during the middle Jomon period (4500 years ago) and is designated as an important cultural property. It is 32 centimeters tall and archaeologists are uncertain as to what it represents. The presentation of this clay figurine is greatly enhanced by dramatic lighting inside the museum room, and it seems like a figurine of a surprised or a singing alien.

Large flat clay figurine from middle Jomon period (4500 years ago) and is designated as an important cultural property

Next, we saw several more displays of stone tools and objects that were excavated from the archaeological site. We saw the display of whetstones, saddle querns, anvil stones, grinding stones, hammer stones, and flat chipped stone tools. All the stone tools and objects made us think about the lifestyle of the long bygone Jomon period. I am including the details about the displays along with the photos below.

Whetstones from middle Jomon period (5000-4000 years ago) and are designated as important cultural properties

Saddle querns and anvil stones from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Grinding stones with pits from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4500 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Hammer stones from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4500 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Grinding stones from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4500 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Semi-circular flat chipped stone tools from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Then followed several displays of stone hunting tools that were excavated from the archaeological site. We saw the display of stemmed scrapers, side scrapers, stone drills, tanged stone scrapers, stone spear heads, and stone arrowheads. Such stone tools were used for hunting by the Jomon people. These tools were mostly made of shale and obsidian rocks, which are suited for creating sharp blades. We also saw the display of crystal arrowheads which looked like cute jewelry rather than hunting tools. I am including the details about the displays along with the photos below.

Stone stemmed scrapers from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are designated as important cultural properties

Stone side scrapers from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Stone drills from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Tanged stone scrapers from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are important cultural properties

Displays of stone spear heads (left) and stone arrowheads (right). All the exhibits are from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago) and are designated as important cultural properties.

Black stone spear heads from middle Jomon period (5000-4000 years ago)

Crystal arrowheads from early to middle Jomon period (5500-4000 years ago)

Next, we saw several more displays of pottery that were excavated from the archaeological site. We saw the display of a shallow clay bowl, a pedestaled dish, and two pots from early to middle Jomon period. The details about the displays are included along with the photos below.

A shallow bowl with stand from middle Jomon period (5000-4500 years ago) and is designated as an important cultural property

A pedestaled dish from middle Jomon period (5000-4500 years ago) and is an important cultural property

On the left is displayed a pot (early stage) from early Jomon period (5500-5000 years ago) and on the right is a pot (middle stage) from middle Jomon period (5000-4500 years ago). Both the pots are important cultural properties.

Finally, we saw the display of human bones that were excavated from the archaeological site. Seeing the bones, I somehow felt close to the ancient Jomon people.

Human bones from early Jomon period (5500-5000 years ago)

At this point, we finished seeing the excavated items and ruins collected from Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site that were exhibited inside ‘Jomon no Kokoro’ section of Sanmaru Museum. Next, we visited ‘Jomonjin no Kurashi wo Himotoku’ themed exhibition section of the museum about which I will write in the next post.