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Yokosuka City is located on the verdant and hilly Miura Peninsula, where people have been living for thousands of years (more information at the link below). Back in Japan's ancient days, dwellings were built near the ocean, where clams, crabs, kelp, other food resources could be gathered. As the sea food was consumed, the empty shells and bones, etc., were placed on a refuse heap, which grew much larger over time -- these came to be known as 貝塚/KAI-ZUKA -- "shell mounds" or "shell middens". Natsushima Shell Mound (夏島貝塚, Natsushima KAI-ZUKA) is an archaeological site in northeastern coastal Yokosuka. It contains an ancient shell midden. It was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1972. At that time, it was considered the oldest known shell midden in Japan. During the early to middle Jōmon period (approximately 4000 to 2500 BC -- see link below), sea levels were five to six meters higher than at present, and the present-day Yokosuka area was inhabited by Jōmon people, many of whom lived in coastal settlements. The Natsushima site is located on what was once an island in Tokyo Bay, but which is now surrounded by reclaimed land. The midden is located at the eastern end of the former island, at an elevation of 50 meters above the present sea level. It measures approximately 14 meters from east-to-west by 13 meters from north-to-south. During archaeological excavations in 1950 and 1955 it was found to be clearly stratified into three layers, with a deposit of soil in between each layer. Each of the strata had shards of Jōmon pottery, which greatly assisted in dating the mound, and radiocarbon dating of the lowest layer yielded a date of 9500 years ago. Other artifacts in the midden included stone weapons and stone tools, bone weapons and tools, fishing hooks made from shell, and shell ring jewelry. Natsushima Shell Mound is located adjacent to a large Nissan Automobile Corporation factory and is not generally open to the public (except for occasional City-guided tours) -- however, it is a reminder of the prehistoric roots of Yokosuka.

written by Goodfield

Link : https://us.iino.cc/blog/blog.html?eid=00012

https://jomon-japan.jp/en/learn/jomon-culture