Kitakogane Shell Midden Park

Overview

Kita-Kogane Shell Midden is a Jomon period (Early to Middle Jomon, approximately 7,000 to 4,500 years ago) settlement site located in Date City, Hokkaido. It's a massive site, covering one-fifth of the area of all Jomon shell middens in Hokkaido. Excavations have revealed not only the shell midden itself, but also a ceremonial site by a water source, pit dwellings, and burial grounds. Developed and opened to the public as a historical park, it offers a tangible experience of the Jomon culture. The vast grounds feature reconstructed pit dwellings and ceremonial sites, allowing visitors to imagine daily life in that era. A large number of pebble tools for grinding nuts were unearthed from the water source remains, further enriching our understanding of their daily lives. Moreover, among the excavated artifacts are numerous valuable items, including what is considered one of the world's oldest 'knives'. Kita-Kogane Shell Midden provides a valuable opportunity to experience not just the daily life of the Jomon period, but also to gain a deeper understanding of their society and culture. We highly recommend a visit.