Journey back 38,000 years to discover Japan's Paleolithic Age, when the first humans arrived on the Japanese islands. This educational documentary explores how our ancestors survived during the Ice Age, when Japan was connected to mainland Asia and giant mammals like mammoths and Naumann elephants roamed the land. Learn about the remarkable stone tool technology, hunting techniques, and nomadic lifestyle of these early peoples. From the groundbreaking discovery at Iwajuku site to the fascinating findings at Lake Nojiri, uncover how archaeological evidence reveals their daily lives, survival strategies, and cultural development. Discover how these resilient hunter-gatherers adapted to dramatic climate changes, developed sophisticated stone-working skills, and eventually transitioned into the Jomon period around 16,000 years ago with the invention of pottery. This documentary combines cutting-edge archaeological research with expert insights to bring Japan's prehistoric past to life. Perfect for students, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about human origins and prehistoric Japan. Educational content suitable for all ages.
00:00約38,000 years ago, the first humans set foot on the Japanese archipelago.
00:06This marked the beginning of Japan's Paleolithic period.
00:09The Paleolithic period refers to the period when humans primarily used stone tools
00:13made by chipping stone.
00:16In global history, it began approximately 2.6 million years ago
00:20and lasted in Japan until approximately 16,000 years ago.
00:24Although this period varies depending on the region,
00:27this period is the longest in human history
00:30and is important for showing how our modern ancestors adapted and survived in harsh natural environments.
00:36Japan's Paleolithic period was relatively short compared to other parts of the world.
00:41But during that time a unique culture and technology developed.
00:45Understanding this period is essential to understanding the roots of the Japanese people
00:49and humanity's incredible adaptability.
00:52Research into the Paleolithic period answers fundamental questions.
00:55Where did we come from?
00:56How did we become what we are today?
00:58Every stone tool bears the wisdom and ingenuity of the people at that time.
01:04The Japanese archipelago during the Paleolithic period
01:07looked completely different from its present-day counterpart.
01:11This period was a cold period known as the Last Glacial Age.
01:15With global temperatures 7 to 10 degrees lower than today.
01:18Because seawater was frozen as glaciers,
01:20sea levels were 120 to 140 meters lower than today.
01:24And the Japanese archipelago was connected to the Korean peninsula.
01:28And mainland China by land.
01:30Various animals migrated to the archipelago from the continent.
01:34Via this land bridge, large mammals not found in present-day.
01:38Japan, such as mammoths, naumans elephants, giant elk, brown bears, tigers, and hyenas, roamed the archipelago.
01:46The vegetation was also very different.
01:49With coniferous forests similar to those found in present-day Hokkaido covering most of Honshu.
01:55Glacial and interglacial periods alternate roughly every 100,000 years.
01:59Causing major changes in the distribution of plants and animals.
02:03Continental animals flourished during cold periods, while plants and animals more similar.
02:07To those found in present-day Japan flourished during warm periods.
02:12Amidst these dramatic environmental changes,
02:14Paleolithic people were able to adapt flexibly and survive.
02:18Because the Sugaru Strait remained a strait even during the glacial period.
02:22The faunas of Honshu and Hokkaido were different.
02:25This is the origin of the biogeographical boundary that remains known today.
02:29Paleolithic people's lives were supported by hunting and gathering.
02:40Rather than settling in fixed locations, they nomadically lived according to the seasons and the movement of prey.
02:46Group sizes are estimated to have been around 20 to 30 people.
02:50And it is believed that they formed small band societies centered around blood-related families.
02:54They often dwelled in caves or under rocks.
02:57And on flat land they built simple tent-like structures.
03:00Their dwellings were probably portable, made from animal skins and plants, and could be dismantled and moved as needed.
03:07Diets varied greatly with the seasons.
03:09From spring to summer, they gathered plant shoots, nuts, and rhizomes.
03:13And in autumn, nuts and mushrooms became important food sources.
03:17Large mammals were hunted for animal foods, but small animals, fish, and shellfish were also important sources of protein.
03:24People back then had a much richer knowledge than people today realize.
03:28They knew which plants were edible, where prey could be found in which seasons, and how to predict weather changes.
03:34They memorized this vast amount of information and passed it on to future generations.
03:39Clothing was mainly made from animal fur.
03:42Fur processing techniques were also well developed, and ingenuity to adapt to cold climates is evident everywhere.
03:49Needles made from bone and horn have also been discovered, indicating the existence of sewing techniques.
03:54The use of fire was an important characteristic of the Paleolithic period.
03:59Fire was used for a variety of purposes, including cooking, heating, lighting, and tool-making, and greatly changed human life.
04:06Remains of campfires, burnt stones, and charred plant fragments have been found at Paleolithic sites throughout Japan.
04:16The most significant feature of the Paleolithic period is the use of chipped stone tools.
04:22Japan's Paleolithic culture can be divided into several periods based on stages of technological development.
04:28From approximately 38,000 to 30,000 years ago, relatively simple flaked stone tools were dominant.
04:34Starting with the basic technique of chipping stone to create sharp blades, this technique gradually became more refined.
04:41From the middle to late periods, distinctive stone tools known as knife-shaped stone tools appeared.
04:47These stone tools were made using the highly advanced technique of stone blades, and had efficient, sharp blades.
04:53Knife-shaped stone tools were used as hunting spear points and as knives for butchering and processing.
04:58In an even later period, bifacial stone tools known as tool points appeared.
05:04These were highly elaborately crafted and required advanced technical skill.
05:08Tool points were primarily used as spear points for hunting, demonstrating their effectiveness in hunting large game.
05:14The knowledge and skill of the people of that time is also reflected in the choice of stone used to make stone tools.
05:20Various stone materials were used depending on the region, such as obsidian, andesite, and chert.
05:27But obsidian in particular was transported from far away because it was capable of making sharp, beautiful stone tools.
05:33When you actually try making stone tools, you really understand how difficult it is.
05:38It takes hours to make a single knife-shaped stone tool, and there were many failures.
05:42I'm truly amazed at the high level of skill of the people of that time.
05:47Stone tool making requires many years of experience and training, and it is thought that a system of passing on skills was also in place.
05:54Skills were passed down from parent to child, from expert to beginner, and were continually improved over the generations.
06:04Research on the Paleolithic period in Japan began in earnest with the discovery of the Iwajuku site in 1949.
06:10Until then, it was believed that there was no Paleolithic period in Japan.
06:16But the discovery of obsidian stone tools by archaeologist Tadahiro Aizawa overturned this accepted theory.
06:23The discovery of the Iwajuku site was a groundbreaking event in the history of Japanese archaeology.
06:29The excavation of stone tools from the Kanto Lome Formation, a volcanic ash layer, proved that the Paleolithic period definitely existed in Japan.
06:37Since this discovery, Paleolithic site surveys have progressed throughout Japan, and currently over 10,000 sites have been discovered.
06:45The Lake Najiri site is an important site that demonstrates the relationship between Paleolithic people and large mammals.
06:52Stone tools were discovered at the bottom of the lake, along with fossils of Nauman's elephant and giant elk,
06:57clearly demonstrating that people at that time hunted large animals.
07:01Some Nauman's elephant bones bear cut marks made by stone tools, attracting attention as traces of butchering.
07:08At the Yasuba site in Shiswoka Prefecture, structures believed to be the remains of dwellings dating back approximately 20,000 years have been discovered.
07:16This valuable discovery, including a stone-enclosed hearth made of stones arranged in a circle,
07:22and small depressions that appear to be post holes, provides concrete insight into life at the time.
07:28At the Shirataki site in Hokkaido, a large number of remains of obsidian stone tool production have been discovered.
07:35This is an obsidian-producing region, and it provides insight into Paleolithic technology and trade, from sources.
07:41Raw materials to stone tool production and even distribution to other regions.
07:47The discoveries at Lake Najiri show that the people of that time were not simply gatherers,
07:52but highly skilled hunters who actively hunted mammoths and Nauman's elephants.
07:56Their courage and technical ability are inspiring.
07:58Human bones dating back approximately 30,000 years have also been discovered at the Taishikikyo site in Kyushu,
08:05providing valuable evidence for understanding the physical characteristics of the Japanese archipelago's inhabitants at that time.
08:11Paleolithic societies were made up of small, kin-based groups.
08:18These groups are thought to have been egalitarian, with no clear class system.
08:23However, there was some degree of division of roles based on age, gender, and individual ability.
08:29It is assumed that men were primarily responsible for hunting, while women primarily engaged in foraging activities.
08:36However, this was not a fixed division of roles.
08:38Roles likely changed flexibly depending on the situation.
08:42Children acquired the skills necessary for life by observing and imitating the activities of adults.
08:47The sharing and passing on of knowledge within a group was extremely important for survival.
08:52A vast amount of information, including hunting techniques, stone tools,
08:57making, knowledge of food plants, and weather prediction, was passed down orally to the next generation.
09:03Although the spiritual culture of the Paleolithic period remains a matter of speculation.
09:08Due to a lack of physical evidence, some interesting discoveries have been made.
09:13Discoveries have included what appear to be shell and stone objects used as jewelry,
09:18as well as traces of the use of red pigment red ochre, suggesting the existence of symbolic
09:22behavior beyond practical purposes.
09:25It is believed that special treatment of the dead also began during this period.
09:29Though there is little evidence of intentional burials, the condition of the human bones suggests
09:34that some form of death ritual existed.
09:37Inter-group interaction was also an important feature.
09:40The widespread distribution of certain stone materials, such as obsidian, indicates the existence
09:45of exchange and trade between groups.
09:48This interaction played an important role in the spread of technology and the maintenance of genetic diversity.
09:53Studies of modern hunter-gatherers can infer much about the societies of Paleolithic people.
09:58They likely led much richer social and spiritual lives than we previously thought.
10:02Inter-glacial period
10:06Approximately 16,000 years ago, the Earth transitioned from the last glacial period to an interglacial period.
10:13This climate change brought dramatic changes to the environment and people's lives in the Japanese archipelago.
10:19Rising temperatures caused sea levels to rise, and the Japanese archipelago once again became an island nation.
10:25Environmental changes also had a significant impact on the distribution of plants and animals.
10:31Large mammals such as mammoths and naumens elephants became extinct,
10:34replaced by small and medium-sized animals found in present-day Japan.
10:39Forests also changed from coniferous to deciduous broadleaf forests, making a wider variety of plant resources available.
10:46In response to these environmental changes, people's lifestyles also changed dramatically.
10:51They shifted from a life centered on hunting large animals to one centered on utilizing a diverse range of resources.
10:57They increasingly relied on more stable and predictable food sources, such as seafood, nuts, and small animals.
11:04Then, around 16,000 years ago, pottery was invented in the Japanese archipelago.
11:10This marks the beginning of Jomen pottery and serves as an important indicator of the transition from the Paleolithic to the Jomen period.
11:16The invention of pottery brought about revolutionary changes in food preparation methods, improving nutritional value and diversifying diets.
11:25Stone tool technology also changed.
11:27In addition to chipped stone tools, polished stone tools appeared, allowing for the production of more precise and efficient tools.
11:35The use of bows and arrows also became widespread, and hunting techniques entered a new stage.
11:40Dwelling patterns also shifted from a nomadic lifestyle to semi-sedentary and then sedentary.
11:46Abundant forest resources and a stable food supply made it possible to stay in one place for long periods of time.
11:52The transition from the Paleolithic to the Jomen period was not simply a change in period.
11:58It was a major turning point in human history, when human lifestyles, technology, and social organization all fundamentally change.
12:04Japan's Paleolithic period lasted for approximately 22,000 years, from approximately 38,000 years ago to approximately 16,000 years ago.
12:18While this period is short in the context of human history as a whole,
12:22it holds great significance as the beginning of human habitation in the Japanese archipelago.
12:27Paleolithic people lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle in a harsh glacial environment and developed stone tool technology.
12:33The stone tools and ruins they left behind provide valuable information about the lifestyles,
12:38technological level, and social organization of the time.
12:42From a global historical perspective, Japan's Paleolithic period is relatively late and was already occupied by modern humans.
12:50The people of this period were one of the groups representing the final stage of the eastward expansion of modern humans after leaving Africa.
12:56Technologically, they developed advanced stone tool technology, including stone blade techniques, knife-shaped stone tools, and stone point production.
13:06While these technologies share elements with Paleolithic cultures of Eurasia, they also display characteristics unique to the Japanese archipelago.
13:14Socially, an egalitarian society consisting of small, blood-related groups is assumed.
13:19These groups engaged in seasonal migration and efficiently utilized resources.
13:24There was also active interaction between groups, resulting in the exchange of stone and the spread of technology.
13:30While direct evidence of spiritual culture is lacking, the beginnings of symbolic behavior can be seen.
13:36Such as the use of jewelry and pigments, and the treatment of the dead.
13:40These are thought to have formed the foundation for the rich spiritual culture of the later Jomen period.
13:44With the end of the Paleolithic period, the people of the Japanese archipelago entered a new era, the Jomen period.
13:52Building on the foundations laid during the Paleolithic period, an even richer and more complex culture blossomed with the invention of pottery.
13:59The use of bows and arrows, and the beginning of sedentary living.
14:03Even today, new discoveries from the Paleolithic period continue to be made across Japan.
14:08Each discovery deepens our understanding of the lives and cultures of our ancestors and fills a gap in human history.
14:15By tracing the footprints left behind by Paleolithic people, we can learn about our own roots and the long journey that humanity has traveled.
14:23Japan's Paleolithic period is certainly only a small period in human history.
14:28However, even in that short period, human creativity, adaptability, and a strong will to survive are imprinted.
14:34For us living in the modern age, the way of life of Paleolithic people is a valuable heritage that provides us with much inspiration and inspiration.
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