Human Activities since the Late Pleistocene in the Middle Part of Central Japan

The middle part of central Japan around Nagano Prefecture is characterized by the predominance of highlands associated with basins and lakes, and is well known for the high concentration of Palaeolithic sites. The famous Tategahana site is located on the west coast of Lake Nojiri in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture. This site has been excavated 14 times from AD 1962 to 2000, and these excavations have revealed Palaeolithic artifacts with fossil bones of Palaeoloxodon naumanni (Naumann's elephant) and Sinomegaceros yabei (Yabe's giant deer). The most remarkable remains found were stone implements and bone artifacts, including a cleaver, a scraper, two knives, and flakes. These Palaeolithic artifacts and big fossils are as old as around 48 to 33ka, and belong to the latest Middle Palaeolithic Age, which corresponds to the early half of the Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS) 3. Takesa-nakahara and Ishikobara sites in Iida City, and Sawada-nabetsuchi and Gamanbuchi sites in Nakano City also might belonging to the late Middle Palaeolithic Age, although sufficient evidence is still lacking. The concentration of Middle Palaeolithic sites suggests the importance of this district for Palaeolithic studies. From the early half of the Late Palaeolithic Age, correlated with latest OIS 3, there are abundant sites around Lake Nojiri; its culture is characterized by partially ground chipped stone axes, trapezoids, and backed blades. In the latter half of the Late Palaeolithic Age, archeological sites increased all over this area. Sugikubo-type industry, Setouchi-type industry, and bi-facial point industry were found in sequence from the sites around Lake Nojiri. Many sites were also located near the obsidian-producing center near Mt. Kirigamine and Mt. Yatsugatake, despite their high altitudes. “Gero-ishi” (Yugamine dacite) and Sawa-type pottery, which were products of the Hida area beyond the Hida Mountains, were widely distributed in the central highland area in the earliest Jomon age, suggesting active human migration and trade in the highland area in the late Late Palaeolithic Age.