An Introduction to the Jōmon Period and its Culture | Jomon Period | Japan

The Jōmon period is the time in Japanese prehistory, dated between circa 14000 BCE to 800 BCE, during which the Japanese archipelago was inhabited by a distinctive hunter-gatherer culture. The Jōmon, who lived a relatively sedentary existence, had advanced cultural complexity despite the absence of sophisticated agricultural practices. Due to this cultural complexity, excavations of prehistoric Jōmon sites continue to reveal elaborate pieces of pottery that defy the notion of what hunter-gatherer peoples were capable of given what many perceive was an existence characterized by a constant search for food. It appears, however, that when provided with ideal conditions, which the Jōmon experienced some five or six thousand years ago, humans often turn their attention to creative pursuits.