Rikiya Hirano, a graduate student at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Science, and a researcher at the University Museum, the University of Tokyo, have discovered that a Jomon skull discovered more than 100 years ago has traces of destructive holes made with a sharp piercing tool. This was discovered through research by Professor Yosuke Kaifu. This damage appears to have been the result of being hit with a sharp object such as a deer antler, and could provide clues to verifying the image of the Jomon people, who are said to have continued to live a peaceful life.
According to the University of Tokyo, this skull was discovered in 1920 at the Hashima Shell Midden in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, and is that of an adult woman from about 6000 years ago, during the early Jomon period. Forensic diagnosis of the hole in the forehead using CT scan revealed radial cracks around the hole, which is typical of the shape caused by a sharp piercing tool such as a deer antler being struck from close range. It became clear that.
The other three cases that have already been reported were diagnosed using the same method, and it was found that the skulls of Jomon people had circular or oval holes drilled from multiple directions. It has not been determined at this point whether the Jomon people, who are said to have lived a peaceful life, engaged in violent acts, or whether there was some kind of ritualistic act after their deaths.
The research group has pointed out that there may be unreported damage to other human bones, and by conducting a comprehensive and systematic investigation of the Jomon people, we hope to deepen our understanding of the violent acts and customs of the people at that time. I'm wondering if that's the case.
Paper information:[Anthropological Science (Japanese Series)] New report on human-induced damage in Jomon period human bones and reexamination of three existing cases
