Tomoyuki USAMI
(The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, The Department of Japanese Studies)

Abstract:
This presentation focuses on the study of jar-burials and grave goods in the Middle Yayoi period mainly in Fukuoka and Saga plains located in Northern Kyushu, Japan. Attempt will be made to explore the changes in their spatial distribution patterns employing Geographical Information System (GIS) and quantitative analysis techniques.
First of all, I will begin with a brief introduction about some of the important characteristics of the Yayoi Period in Japan, such as rice cultivation, mortuary practices, etc. After briefly summarizing the transformation of mortuary practices in Northern Kyushu, I will show the period wise distribution of jar-burials and grave goods based on my prepared database and several types of thematic maps. Then attempt will be made to demonstrate the local characteristics of the spatio-temporal patterns of jar-burials and grave goods adopting different techniques like multivariate statistics. At this point, I will also try to analyze the characteristics of settlement pattern changes within these two plains using the methods mentioned earlier. Finally, based on the findings of the exercises mentioned above, I will try to investigate the mutual relationship between these patterns. Notwithstanding the fact that there is lot of scope for improvement in this study, through this endeavor my focus will be on to interpret the changing relationship between the burial and residence and understand the social considerations taken during the Middle Yayoi period.

Keywords: GIS, Jar-burials, The Middle Yayoi Period, Mortuary practices