I. Earliest Developments A. Human traces ca. 500,000 B.C.E. B. Paleolithic (Stone age) tools dating back 30,000 B.C.E. C. Semi-nomadic, preceramic culture D. Pleistocene (Ice Age) land bridge II. Jomon “Rope Pottery Culture“ A. End of glacial age ca. 10,000 B. food gathering culture, similar to Polynesians emerged ca. 8000 C. increase in shell fish with rise in sea level D. Neolithic communities, but no larger socio-political unity E. dead buried in shell pits—main sources for study of Jomon F. dogu = “earthen figurines” G. handmade pottery, rope pattern H. over 30,000 Jomon sites identified, most in northeast I. “discovered” in late 19th century by Western scholars     1. E. S. Morse (1838-1925) American Zoologist at Tokyo University     2. shell pits chemical composition preserved pottery, bones, etc III. Yayoi Culture: 300 B.C.- 300          A. Agricultural Revolution----Neolithic Revolution fully evident             1. wet-rice grown in alluvial wetlands              2. entered Japan via northern Kyushu, from Korea             3. millet, barley, wheat grown on higher ground B. Bronze metalurgy      1. alloy of tin and copper     2. developed in China with Shang dynasty (ca. 1600-1050 B.C.E.)     3. mirrors, bells, swords, rings, bracelets, etc. C. Socio-political structure     1. stratification, but no greater unity         a. uji = "lineage groups" clan-like communities         b. ujigami = deity of the uji         c. uji no kami = leader of the uji         d. be = specialized workers bound to uji         e. yatsuko = slaves of the uji, approx. 5% of population         f. kuni = territory controlled by uji         g. miyatsuko = vassal uji     2. religious elite evident         a. dead buried in cemetaries         b. "double burial" practices evident         c. festivals, ceremonies, etc apparent d. late-Yayoi kofun “burial mounds” e. haniwa “round clay sculptures” D. beginnings of "civilization"