Yamazaki Shell Mound

The Yamazaki Shell Mound is an archaeological deposit in Chiba Prefecture made up of countless layers of discarded shells, bones, and broken pottery from the ancient past. These materials stack up to form a substantial hill that researchers continue to study today.

This site originated during the Jomon period, when hunter-gatherer communities settled along Japan's coasts and created these enormous shell piles over centuries. Major excavations since the 1800s have revealed how long people inhabited and shaped this landscape.

The shells and pottery pieces found here tell stories about how people lived along the coast thousands of years ago. You can see how cooking methods, tools, and daily routines shaped the objects they left behind.

The preserved remains here offer visitors a chance to see how archaeological sites are studied layer by layer, revealing information about ancient diets and settlement patterns. Walking around the site helps you understand how researchers piece together stories from fragments and shells.

This mound is one of about 120 similar sites scattered across the Chiba area, but what makes it special is how its shell layers preserve even the tiniest remains of meals and daily life. The alkaline chemistry of the shells created a natural time capsule that scientists still use today to understand how ancient people ate and lived.