Hamashiriya Shell Mound

Hamashiriya Shell Mound: A Medieval Abalone Midden

The Hamashiriya Shell Mound (浜尻屋貝塚, Hamashiriya Kaizuka) is a medieval shell midden in use from the early 14th to the late 15th century at Shiriya, Higashidori Village, Shimokita District, Aomori Prefecture, designated a national Historic Site in 2006.

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Hamashiriya Shell Mound lies at the northeastern tip of the Shimokita Peninsula, at the northern end of Honshu, and consists mainly of abalone. There are 14 separate midden spots, and large quantities of abalone shells of a uniform size, around 6 centimetres long, were recovered.

Aomori Prefecture gives the location as Nenbutsuma, Shiriya, and the owner as the Shiriya land conservation association.

Why It Was Designated

On the levelled, built-up ground behind the middens, many post-built buildings, wells and hearth-like features were found, thought to be facilities for processing the catch. The finds point to lively trade.

The Agency concludes from the mass of shells and the processing facilities that dried abalone was produced at Hamashiriya. Dried abalone was a tribute item in ancient times and, in the early modern period, one of the Nagasaki tawaramono exported to China, a prized preserved food. Much about the medieval trade is unclear, but the Agency finds it notable that dried abalone was already being made for trade.

The Agency values the Hamashiriya Shell Mound for showing how marine products were processed in the Middle Ages and for what it reveals about trade at the time.

What to Look For

The defining feature of the Hamashiriya Shell Mound is the huge number of abalone shells all about 6 centimetres long. Their uniform size suggests that catching and processing followed consistent standards.

Consider the setting too: at the far northeastern tip of Honshu, a medieval shore settlement was producing goods for trade.

Visiting the Hamashiriya Shell Mound

Aomori Prefecture lists the site as open to the public but closed in winter, from December to March. No official information on fees or transport was found.

Enquiries go to the Higashidori Village Board of Education on 0175-27-2111.