Tokoro Site, Archaeological site in Kitami, Japan
The Tokoro Site is an archaeological zone in Hokkaido that contains remains from multiple ancient cultures spanning different time periods. The area features visible depressions in the ground marking old dwellings, along with a museum displaying recovered items and reconstructed houses.
Archaeological research at this location began in the 1950s and uncovered settlement layers from different epochs. These excavations helped scholars understand the lives of the earliest human inhabitants of Hokkaido.
Visitors can see how Jomon communities established themselves here and left behind tools and pottery that reveal their daily practices. The excavated items show the connections these early inhabitants had with their environment and how they organized their lives.
Access to the site is straightforward and the museum provides barrier-free paths through the exhibits and outdoor areas. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the ground is uneven and there is much to explore around the dwellings and reconstructed structures.
Excavations revealed that inhabitants of one particular culture deliberately set their houses on fire before moving away. The charred remains offer rare insight into ancient rituals and transitions of these communities.
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