Futatsumori Shell Mound is a large archaeological site in Shichinohe Town, Aomori Prefecture, dating from the Early to Middle Jomon Period. It is one of the most important archaeological sites for understanding the Jomon culture of prehistoric Japan.
The settlement flourished approximately 5,500 to 4,000 years ago. The site includes extensive shell middens and traces of a large settlement, providing valuable evidence of how people lived, obtained food, made tools, and interacted with the natural environment during the Jomon Period.
The archaeological site covers approximately 30 hectares, extending about 600 meters from east to west and approximately 170 meters from north to south. Part of Futatsumori Shell Mound was designated a National Historic Site in 1998, and the protected area was expanded in 2015.
In 2021, Futatsumori Shell Mound became part of the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, it attracts visitors interested in the history, archaeology, and ancient culture of Japan.
The environment of northern Japan during the Jomon Period was considerably different from today. During the Early to Middle Jomon Period, temperatures are believed to have been approximately 2°C warmer than today, while sea levels were around 5 to 6 meters higher.
These environmental conditions created rich coastal ecosystems, providing abundant sources of food. Although Futatsumori Shell Mound is located inland today, approximately 5,000 years ago the surrounding area was close to an inlet connected to the Pacific Ocean and associated with what is now Lake Ogawara.
The settlement was built on a plateau approximately 30 meters above the surrounding area. Several shell middens developed along both the northern and southern slopes of the plateau. Archaeological evidence indicates that a large community lived here and made extensive use of the resources available from both the sea and the surrounding forests.
One of the most important features of Futatsumori Shell Mound is the large quantity and variety of food remains discovered at the site. Archaeologists have identified 27 types of shells, including scallops, clams, oysters, Manila clams, and freshwater Japanese basket clams.
Fish bones have also been found, including those of red sea bream, sea bass, flounder, pufferfish, and salmon. Remains of animals such as deer and wild boar provide further evidence that the inhabitants made use of a wide range of natural resources.
These discoveries offer an insight into the Jomon diet and demonstrate how people adapted their lives to the rich environment surrounding their settlement. Rather than relying on a single food source, they collected and hunted resources from rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and forests.
Futatsumori Shell Mound is also notable for the numerous tools and ornaments made from bone, antler, and animal teeth that have been excavated there. These artifacts reveal both the practical skills and artistic sensibilities of Jomon communities.
Among the most notable discoveries is a comb made from deer antler. It has been designated an important cultural treasure of Aomori Prefecture and provides a fascinating example of the craftsmanship of the Jomon Period.
Four other artifacts are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Aomori Prefecture: a whale-bone object shaped like a traditional Chinese-style saber, a pointed tool made from deer antler, a pendant made from boar tusk, and a fork-shaped object made from deer antler.
These artifacts demonstrate that Jomon people were capable of producing carefully crafted objects not only for everyday use but also for personal decoration and possibly ritual purposes.
Human remains discovered at Futatsumori Shell Mound provide important clues about the lives and beliefs of the people who lived here thousands of years ago. Archaeological discoveries are helping researchers better understand the community’s attitudes toward life, death, and burial.
Particularly interesting is the discovery of buried dog remains. This suggests that dogs had an important place in Jomon society. They may have served as hunting companions and were likely treated as valued members of the community.
The discovery provides a glimpse into the close relationship between humans and animals in prehistoric Japan, long before the development of modern Japanese society.
Another important feature of Futatsumori Shell Mound is the discovery of materials that were not naturally available in the local area. Among them are jade and obsidian.
The presence of these materials indicates that the people living at Futatsumori were connected to communities in distant regions. They exchanged goods and materials over considerable distances, demonstrating that Jomon society was not simply based on isolated, self-sufficient settlements.
Instead, communities were linked through extensive networks of communication and exchange. These discoveries provide valuable evidence of the sophisticated social relationships that existed in prehistoric Japan.
Today, the archaeological site has been developed as the Futatsumori Shell Mound Historic Site Park, where visitors can experience the atmosphere of the Jomon Period while learning about the site’s archaeological importance.
Two reconstructed pit dwellings can be seen within the park. These structures help visitors imagine what homes in the settlement may have looked like thousands of years ago.
Pit dwellings were an important type of Jomon housing. The floor was built below ground level, helping to protect the interior from the surrounding climate. Seeing the reconstructed buildings makes it easier to imagine the everyday lives of the people who once lived at Futatsumori.
The park also includes an area known as the Jomon Forest, where vegetation associated with the natural environment of the Jomon Period has been recreated.
Walking through this landscape offers visitors an opportunity to consider the close relationship between the ancient settlement and its surrounding environment. The natural scenery also helps explain why this location was suitable for a large prehistoric community.
A viewing area provides a broad panorama of the site. From here, visitors can appreciate the large scale of the ancient settlement and the surrounding landscape.
Information panels and exhibition facilities are also available, making the site accessible to visitors who may be unfamiliar with Japanese prehistory. They explain the excavated artifacts, food remains, houses, and other evidence discovered at Futatsumori.
Futatsumori Shell Mound is one of the largest and most significant Jomon archaeological sites in the Tohoku region. Its extensive remains provide important information about many aspects of prehistoric life, including food, settlement patterns, technology, beliefs, craftsmanship, and long-distance exchange.
Its inclusion in the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan World Heritage property in 2021 recognizes its outstanding value as part of the archaeological record of the Jomon Period.
Unlike a museum where visitors only view ancient artifacts, the historic site allows visitors to experience the actual landscape where people lived thousands of years ago. The shell middens, reconstructed dwellings, natural environment, and panoramic views together create a vivid picture of prehistoric life.
For travelers interested in Japanese history, archaeology, prehistoric cultures, and World Heritage sites, Futatsumori Shell Mound offers a unique experience away from Japan’s better-known historical destinations.
A visit to this site provides an opportunity to look beyond the castles, temples, and traditional towns commonly associated with Japanese history and discover a much older chapter of the country’s past.
When traveling through Shichinohe Town and northern Aomori, Futatsumori Shell Mound is a fascinating place to visit and a valuable opportunity to learn about the people who lived in Japan more than four thousand years ago.