Sanganji shell mound, Archaeological site in Shinchi, Japan.
Sanganji shell mound is an archaeological site in Shinchi containing multiple layers of shells, pottery fragments, and stone tools from ancient coastal communities. The excavations revealed remains that document settlement patterns along the Pacific coast.
The site formed during the Jomon period when hunter-gatherers lived along Tohoku's coasts and harvested marine resources. Archaeological excavations in the mid-20th century uncovered deposits approximately 4,000 years old.
The site reveals how coastal communities relied on the sea for food and daily survival. The shells and tools found here show the practical skills and routines of people living thousands of years ago.
The site sits near Shinchi Station with a stone marker and information panels describing the discoveries. Visitors can walk there from the station to see the memorial and read the explanatory displays.
Genetic analysis of teeth from the remains reveals surprising connections to modern East Asian populations. These genetic links help researchers trace how ancient populations moved and settled across the region over thousands of years.
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