Okyōzuka Site, Archaeological site in Nonoichi, Japan
The Okyōzuka Site is an archaeological location in the Hokuriku region showing an ancient Jomon settlement with a distinctive horseshoe-shaped layout. The center has an exposed plaza and restored pit dwellings that give a sense of how earlier residents lived.
The site developed during the Jomon period between 1700 and 500 BC and was systematically excavated starting in 1955. The digs revealed many layers of settlement and provided major knowledge about early societies in the region.
The pottery found here shows connections between eastern and western Japanese craftsmanship, visible in daily objects from the settlement. This blend of styles reveals how the community traded and exchanged ideas with distant regions.
The eastern area with restored pit dwellings is easiest to explore and gives the best sense of former home life. The western section is more open and lets visitors move freely to understand the overall shape of the settlement.
The site played an important role in classifying pottery styles that helped scholars date other finds across the region. This significance made it a reference point for studying early Japanese ceramics.
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