Prehistoric Japan

An illustrated introduction to the prehistory of Japan, treated in its own right and not as a minor part of East Asia in general. An introduction to Japan's natural environment; the periodization of Japanese archaeology; palaeolithic research on the volcanic islands; earliest pottery and the dates controversy; establishment of the Jomon economic system and stable settlements; marine transgression and fishing; pit-traps and Jomon hunting; plant foods and the Middle Jomon culture; questions in the late final Jomon period; the arrival of agriculture; racial questions of Jomon and Yayoi peoples; immigrant settlements and overseas trade; iron and bronze; political unification; two later prehistories in the north and south; the prehistory of Japan and its position in East Asia.