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Thread: Resources for those looking to study Japanese Archaeology
1. Disclaimers
These resources are simply ones I have collected over the years studying Japanese archaeology within Japan. If there are any that I have missed, please comment them below. If you cannot find a link, resource or have any questions feel free to DM me!
These resources are simply ones I have collected over the years studying Japanese archaeology within Japan. If there are any that I have missed, please comment them below. If you cannot find a link, resource or have any questions feel free to DM me!
2. Introductory texts
-An Illustrated Companion to Japanese Archaeology
-The Archaeology of Japan
-Archaeology of East Asia
-Jomon Reflections
-Dictionary of Japanese Archaeological Terms
-An Illustrated Companion to Japanese Archaeology
-The Archaeology of Japan
-Archaeology of East Asia
-Jomon Reflections
-Dictionary of Japanese Archaeological Terms
3. Influential authors in the past 20 years (in English)
*in no particular order
-Junko Habu
-Richard Pearson
-Koji Mizoguchi
-Mark Hudson
-Ken’ichi Sasaki
-Gina Barnes
-Simon Kaner
*in no particular order
-Junko Habu
-Richard Pearson
-Koji Mizoguchi
-Mark Hudson
-Ken’ichi Sasaki
-Gina Barnes
-Simon Kaner
4. (Prehistoric) Periods
Paleolithic 旧石器時代 きゅうせっきじだい
Jomon 縄文時代 じょうもんじだい
Yayoi 弥生時代 やよいじだい
Kofun 古墳時代 こふんじだい
Japanese era names are different from the western calendar.
Japanese Era Converter
https://tinyurl.com/y6okk92n
Paleolithic 旧石器時代 きゅうせっきじだい
Jomon 縄文時代 じょうもんじだい
Yayoi 弥生時代 やよいじだい
Kofun 古墳時代 こふんじだい
Japanese era names are different from the western calendar.
Japanese Era Converter
https://tinyurl.com/y6okk92n
5. Data collection
Japan has a fantastic system of site reporting, and has one of the most detailed methods of publishing raw data from archaeological digs.
Japanese Archipelago GIS Map
https://tinyurl.com/yxlfj4mn
Site report online database https://tinyurl.com/y4g6d4ef
Japan has a fantastic system of site reporting, and has one of the most detailed methods of publishing raw data from archaeological digs.
Japanese Archipelago GIS Map
https://tinyurl.com/yxlfj4mn
Site report online database https://tinyurl.com/y4g6d4ef
6. Conferences
National Conf.
日本考古学会 The Arch. Society of Nippon
日本情報考古学会 Japan Association for Archaeoinfo.
Regional Conf.
九州考古学会 Arch. Society of Kyushu
九州史学会 The Historical Society of Kyushu
International Conf.
Society for East Asian Arch. (SEAA)
National Conf.
日本考古学会 The Arch. Society of Nippon
日本情報考古学会 Japan Association for Archaeoinfo.
Regional Conf.
九州考古学会 Arch. Society of Kyushu
九州史学会 The Historical Society of Kyushu
International Conf.
Society for East Asian Arch. (SEAA)
7. Publishing
Publishing in Japanese
日本考古学 Japanese Arch. Association
考古学ジャーナル Archaeological Journal
Publishing in English
Unfortunately, journals dedicated to Japanese archaeology in English are still not widely available.
Japanese Journal of Arch. (JJA)
Publishing in Japanese
日本考古学 Japanese Arch. Association
考古学ジャーナル Archaeological Journal
Publishing in English
Unfortunately, journals dedicated to Japanese archaeology in English are still not widely available.
Japanese Journal of Arch. (JJA)
8.1 Studying in Japan
Where to study Japanese arch. (in English)
Unfortunately, there are no dedicated programs to teaching JP arch. primarily in English in Japan. Most likely you will need a high level of professional JP language ability to comfortably study in a university.
Where to study Japanese arch. (in English)
Unfortunately, there are no dedicated programs to teaching JP arch. primarily in English in Japan. Most likely you will need a high level of professional JP language ability to comfortably study in a university.
8.2 Studying in Japan
Some universities or professors will accept students without Japanese ability, but your daily life in the lab as well as your ability to grasp understanding of texts may suffer. I would recommend a minimum of JLPT N2 to study comfortably.
Some universities or professors will accept students without Japanese ability, but your daily life in the lab as well as your ability to grasp understanding of texts may suffer. I would recommend a minimum of JLPT N2 to study comfortably.
9.1 Excavating in Japan
How to get into an excavation:
99% of excavations are only open to domestic applicants, and a majority are run by government or prefectural bodies. Universities also conduct excavations, but you will need to be a student of the university to join.
How to get into an excavation:
99% of excavations are only open to domestic applicants, and a majority are run by government or prefectural bodies. Universities also conduct excavations, but you will need to be a student of the university to join.
9.2 Excavating in Japan
You may be able to come to Japan to excavate either through domestic intro. or a small # of international-focused excavations. However, you will not be paid on a tourist visa.
International Excavations:
Rebun Island International Arch. Field School
You may be able to come to Japan to excavate either through domestic intro. or a small # of international-focused excavations. However, you will not be paid on a tourist visa.
International Excavations:
Rebun Island International Arch. Field School
10.1 Final comments
Japanese archaeology is a black box for international scholars. There are few scholars who continue to publish in English, and even fewer that are working domestically in Japan.
Japanese archaeology is a black box for international scholars. There are few scholars who continue to publish in English, and even fewer that are working domestically in Japan.
10.2 Final comments
Unfortunately, there has been a history of gatekeeping information, but I hope this thread can be a start to the open sharing of information across borders. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me anytime.
Unfortunately, there has been a history of gatekeeping information, but I hope this thread can be a start to the open sharing of information across borders. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me anytime.
