Hokkaido area   (Group leader Kazunobu Ikeya)

Neolithisation & Modernisation coincidently, 17-19^th c

Area. Ishikarigawa river basin

Reasons for selection:

(1) Hdo. area belongs to the sub-boreal climate and is situated in the Northernmost part of the Japanese Archipelago;

(2) Represents the cultural and historical diversity of the Japanese Archipelago with its predominantly foraging Ainu culture;

(3) Trading activities with North-Eastern areas of Russian Far-East and Amur river;

(4) The persistence of hunters-gatherers’ society until the arrival of production economy with the colonial power during the Modern ages.

Important issues during the Neolithisation period:

(1)   The existence or non-existence of the earliest stage of Jomon period.

(2)   The persistence of hunters-gatherers’ economy even after the introduction of paddy field rice cultivation on the other islands of the archipelago.

(3) The influence of Ainu culture and its perception of environment on the LS after its emergence around 3rd c BC.

Important issues during the Modernisation period:

(1)   The introduction of production economy from Honshu.

(2)   Trading activities with Honshu.

(3)   The colonial development and the reorganisation of the Ainu subsistence and land use habits by the colonial powers; subsequent changes in environmental perception and LS.

(4) Relatively short development period between Neolithisation and Modernisation. Modernisation accompanied by colonisation.