Artifacts Excavated from Maeda Cultivated Land Ruins, Tokyo

Artifacts from the Maeda Kochi Site: A Window into Japan's Earliest Jomon Life

Imagine a time roughly 15,500 years ago, when the Japanese archipelago was emerging from the last Ice Age. Along the banks of the Aki River in what is now Akiruno City, western Tokyo, a small group of hunter-gatherers set up a seasonal camp. They crafted stone spears by the thousands, caught salmon running upstream, and left behind a remarkable record of one of Japan's earliest settled communities. Today, the artifacts unearthed from this site—known as the Maeda Kochi Site—are designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the dawn of the Jomon period.

What Is the Maeda Kochi Site?

The Maeda Kochi Site (前田耕地遺跡) is a multi-period archaeological site located in Akiruno City, Tokyo, on a river terrace between the Aki River and the Hirai River. Excavated between 1976 and 1984, the site revealed layers of human habitation spanning from the Incipient Jomon period through to the ancient era. The most significant discoveries come from the earliest Jomon layers, dating to approximately 15,500 years ago—a period known as the Incipient Jomon (縄文時代草創期), which represents the very beginning of Japan's famed Jomon culture.

A total of 2,616 stone artifacts from this site have been collectively designated as a national Important Cultural Property (重要文化財) since June 29, 1990. The collection is primarily held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Archaeological Center in Tama City, with eight stone spears housed at the National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture.

Why These Artifacts Are So Important

The Maeda Kochi artifacts are significant for several reasons that place them at the heart of understanding Japan's prehistoric past.

First, the sheer scale of stone spear production is remarkable. Over 2,000 bifacial stone spears (石槍), along with more than 500,000 stone flakes and debitage, were recovered from just two dwelling structures and six stone-tool concentration areas. This extraordinary volume of production debris tells us that this site functioned as a specialized spear-manufacturing workshop—one of the most intensive stone tool production sites ever found in Japan from this period.

Second, the site provides Japan's oldest confirmed evidence of river fishing. Analysis of animal remains found within the pit dwelling revealed the jaw bones and teeth of 60 to 70 individual salmon, along with bones of mammals such as bears. Given the site's location near the confluence of the Tama River and the Aki River—a natural route for salmon migration—researchers concluded that these early inhabitants gathered here during autumn when salmon ran upstream, combining fishing activities with intensive spear production.

Third, the architectural remains are among the earliest dwelling structures discovered in the Tokyo region. Two buildings were found: one was a surface-level structure outlined by eight river cobbles, and the other was a shallow pit dwelling about 10 centimeters deep with a hearth positioned slightly north of center. These structures are considered to be among Japan's first examples of Incipient Jomon architecture.

What You Can See: Highlights of the Collection

The designated collection encompasses an impressive array of stone tools that vividly illustrate the technological sophistication of Japan's earliest Jomon craftspeople.

The bifacial stone spears are the centerpiece of the collection. Crafted from locally available chert, hornfels, and tuff gathered from the nearby riverbeds, these spears exhibit skilled flaking techniques. The collection includes finished spears of various sizes, partially completed specimens that reveal the step-by-step manufacturing process, and thousands of waste flakes that allow researchers to reconstruct the entire production sequence through refitting analysis.

Pottery fragments from the site are exceedingly rare—only two vessels' worth of sherds were recovered—but their presence is highly significant. Recent radiocarbon dating analysis has raised the possibility that these fragments may be among the oldest pottery in Japan, adding yet another dimension to the site's importance.

The faunal remains, particularly the salmon bones, offer a tangible connection to the daily life and subsistence strategies of these early people. The presence of bear and other mammal bones further enriches our understanding of the diverse resources these hunter-gatherers exploited.

Where to See the Artifacts

Tokyo Metropolitan Archaeological Center (Primary Collection)

The majority of the Maeda Kochi artifacts are stored and periodically displayed at the Tokyo Metropolitan Archaeological Center (東京都埋蔵文化財センター) in Tama City. This facility serves as both a research institution and a public exhibition space, making it the best place to encounter these prehistoric treasures.

The center features a permanent exhibition hall showcasing approximately 30,000 years of Tama Hills history through excavated artifacts. Visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences including touching actual Jomon pottery, trying fire-making tools, and even dressing in Jomon-style clothing. The outdoor Jomon Village (縄文の村) features three reconstructed pit dwellings on an actual preserved archaeological site, with regular fire-lighting demonstrations inside the dwellings.

National Museum of Japanese History (Eight Stone Spears)

Eight stone spears from the Maeda Kochi collection are held at the National Museum of Japanese History (国立歴史民俗博物館, known as "Rekihaku") in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture. This world-class museum covers the full sweep of Japanese history from prehistory to the modern era across six exhibition halls, with the first hall dedicated to prehistory and antiquity where these spears may be encountered.

The Original Site: Maeda Park

While the artifacts themselves are housed in museums, the original excavation site in Akiruno City has been partially preserved as Maeda Park (前田公園). The site is designated as a Tokyo Metropolitan Historic Site, and though there are no above-ground remains visible today—the archaeological layers lie buried beneath the surface—visiting the park offers a contemplative experience. Standing on the river terrace where Jomon people once lived, you can still see the Aki River flowing below and imagine the autumn runs of salmon that drew people here over 15,000 years ago.

Surrounding Attractions

A visit to the Maeda Kochi artifacts can be combined with several other worthwhile destinations in the greater Tokyo area.

Near the Tokyo Metropolitan Archaeological Center in Tama City, Sanrio Puroland is just across the street—a delightful contrast of ancient and modern Japanese culture. The Tama Center area also offers pleasant parks and shopping facilities around the station.

In Akiruno City, the natural scenery of the Aki River valley provides excellent opportunities for riverside walks and seasonal nature appreciation. The area is particularly beautiful during autumn foliage season, which coincidentally is the same time of year when Jomon people would have been active at the site.

For those interested in Japanese prehistory, the National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura offers an unparalleled deep dive into the full scope of Japanese history and culture, with its first exhibition hall providing rich context for understanding the world of the Maeda Kochi artifacts.