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Figure 8. The estimated site catchment of Shingu settlement
3.12 Environment within the Catchment Area of Shingu
Settlement
Surrounding environments of Shingu settlement were counted on
an areas defined by time-distance from the settlement (areal: 0-
20min; area2: 20-40min; area3: 40-60min; area4: 60-80min;
area5: 80-100min; area6: 100-120min). The percentages of each
environmental factor per unit area (i.e. areas defined by time-
distance) were calculated (Figure 9).
—$9— low relief
mountains
“base of
mountain
—k- high relief
mountains
gravel plateau
60 re STE
50
40
— Alluvial lowland
-9—natural levee
0-20 20-40 40-80 60-80 80-100 100-120 | 7 deltaic lowland
Figure 9. Graph shows the percentage of environmental factor per
unit area (Shingu settlement).
The result shows that the percentage of the low land, plateau and
mountains inverts around the distance of 50 minutes walk from
the settlement. This result implies that the environmental
characteristic changes from the plain to mountainous area around
the threshold of 50 minutes.
3.1.3 Activities held in Shingu Settlement
Several structural remains (i.e. dwelling, pit, and grave) and a
number of artifacts (i.c. pottery and common stone tools known in
Jomon) were uncovered from the Shingu site (Education Board of
Okazaki, 2001). The uncovered artifacts imply that there were a
hunting, nuts and root crop gathering, and freshwater fishery,
(and millet cultivation). Uncovered amount of stone arrowhead
and the tool set for grinding is suggesting that the activities were
emphasized on the hunting and nuts gathering. Also the unearthed
polished stone axe is an evidence for their using of the wooden
resources.
32 Reconstructing the Shingu Site and Surrounding
Environment
321 Reconstructing the Vegetation of the Catchment
The realistic transition of vegetation, which is particular
vegetation type of the site-catchment, was reconstructed.
Reconstruction is based on the potential natural vegetation, which
is interpreted from geographic characteristic of the land and
Warmth Index (WI). WI is an index conceived by Kira (1985),
Which indicates the correspondence between the monthly
temperature and vegetation type. Ancient potential natural
vegetation surrounding the site can be estimated by using GIS
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B5. Istanbul 2004
due
modelling based on the pollen
diagram, WI, and terrain
characteristics (Watanabe, -2004).
Also the influence of the human
activity indicated by Suzuki (1997)
within the catchment is taken into
account for the reconstruction. Four
different vegetation areas, which are
l settlement, 2)open forest,
3)secondary forest, 4)natural forest,
were decided based on the study of
Suzuki (ibid.) (Figure 10). The
corresponding time distances to the physical distance decided
by Suzuki (ibid.) were used to restrict these areas (i.e. same as
the area decided in 3.1.2).
WI= > (im — 3) (2)
tm>5
Where tm = average temperature of the month
Figure 10. Different
vegetation area inside
the catchment
3.2.2 Visualizing the Spatial Structure of the site
catchment
Spatial structure surrounding the site is depicted in realistic
representation based on the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and
estimated vegetation (Figure 11). Computer Graphics (CG) is
generated by planting the tree image on the corresponding
vegetation distribution layer (Yoshida, 2001). Land use of Late
Jomon period is estimated by considering the graph and the CG.
Site catchment area contains various environments, and there
were various food-gathering activities held inside. As is referred,
Graph (figure 9) shows invert of the land characteristics in 50
minutes walk from the settlement. This threshold, 50 minutes is
corresponding to the border of the vegetation disturbance
according to the CG. The land utilization of Shingu site may be
classified into cultivation, nuts gathering area (Secondary forest
tends to be rich in nuts.) and hunting zone at the border of 50
minutes (Figure 11).
Settlement Secondary Forest
/ ; /
\ Open Forest / Natural Forest
\ |
Lowland
[ Hunting
| Cultivation, Roots Gathering |
[ | NusGathering — 1]
Figure 11. The environment inside catchment area and its
spatial structure referred with the corresponding
food-gathering activities (Shingu settlement).
3.3 Karekinomiya Archaeological Site
Karekinomiya site was a settlement of latest stage of Jomon
period. The settlement was located in the coast area, near the
river mouth of the Yahagi river (Figure 12).
