ARCHAEOBOTANICAL EVIDENCE FOR ZOKU-JOMON SUBSISTENCE AT THE MOCHIYAZAWA SITE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

This paper reports on the results of archaeobotanical research underta ken at the Mockiyazawa site, a Zoku-Jomon (Kohoku C-2 and D) locality in southwestern Hokkaido, Japan. Recent studies of the Zoku-Jomon cult ure suggest that these foraging people were in contact with Yayoi farm ers, with whom they exchanged a variety of items. The main focus of th e archaeobotanical research carried out at Mochiyazawa is to attempt a reconstruction of various aspects of Zoku-Jomon subsistence and settl ement. The density of archaeobotanical remains deposited in features a t the site is used as an indicator of intensity of activities relating to burning and plant processing. Preliminary results demonstrate that the temporary nature of Mochiyazawa occupations is reflected in the a rchaeobotanical record. It is also possible that the inhabitants of Mo chiyazawa incorporated cultigens into their foraging subsistence patte rn, and that acculturation by Yayoi agriculturists was well underway b y the latter half of the period. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited