Ō Yama, Archaeological site and mountain in Odate, Japan.
Ō Yama is a mountain standing about 376 m high with several archaeological sites scattered across its slopes containing ancient artifacts. The terrain shows layers from different periods of human activity and holds numerous remains from earlier inhabitants.
People lived here around 15,000 years ago leaving behind early pottery and other objects. Over thousands of years, settlement patterns evolved, which the soil layers now document.
Archaeological finds suggest that people gathered here to perform rituals and viewed the mountain slopes as places of spiritual importance. The recovered objects show how early communities expressed their connection to the natural world.
A museum nearby displays finds and explains the history of the mountain and its inhabitants. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as paths on the site can be uneven.
Among the discoveries are specialized stone tools such as axes and blades that show how skilled the earlier inhabitants were. These tools also suggest that people here traded goods with distant communities.
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