Abstract

Interpretation of plant remains analyzed to date from the Yagi site in southwestern Hokkaido document the hitherto unknown early Early Jomon plant-related subsistence ecology. Initial and late Early Jomon components at Yagi also exist and samples from these deposits are compared with Initial Jomon Hakodate Airport site and late Early Jomon Hamanasuno site plant remains. Barnyard grass, a millet, which becomes common in samples by 4000 BP in the area and which seems to have undergone some change from 5000 to 4000 BP, is a rare part of the Yagi plant remains assemblage. Nut remains, common at the Initial Jomon Hakodate Airport site, but rarely found in samples dating from the following two millenia, are in abundance in some components at Yagi, but not others. Preliminary thoughts on integrating the plant remains data with local palynological data, as well as with a catchment study, are presented.