Yaze Site, Archaeological site in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, Japan

The Yaze Site is a Jomon period settlement in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, with 22 pit dwellings in north and south groups, a water area lined with river stones, a ritual space with a stone altar and a row of chestnut pillars, and a cemetery of over 100 stone graves. Excavations in 1992 uncovered these zones close together.

The settlement was inhabited during the Jomon period, roughly 3500 to 2300 years ago, showing how early Japanese societies organized their communities. The arrangement of about 22 dwellings in two separate zones suggests planned settlement structure.

The site reveals how Jomon inhabitants organized their living spaces around water sources and ritual areas that structured their daily routines. Walking through the grounds, you can observe where they prepared food and the stones they arranged for special purposes.

The site is now part of a park where you can see reconstructions of pit dwellings and walk through the archaeological grounds. Public transport connects directly to the location, making access straightforward for visitors.

Inhabitants built a sophisticated water system lined with river stones to remove tannins from acorns and walnuts before eating them. This technique reveals their advanced knowledge of food processing and resource use in the Jomon period.