Moyoro Shell Mound

The remains of a settlement from the Okhotsk culture period, consisting of dwelling sites, graves and shell mounds, are located in Abashiri City, Hokkaido. It is located on the sand dunes on the north bank where the Abashiri River flows into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It has been known in academic circles since the mid-Meiji period, but became widely known to the public as a result of the research and conservation activities conducted by Yonemura Kioe from the early Taisho period. In 1947, 1948 and 1951, joint surveys were conducted by the University of Tokyo, Hokkaido University and the Abashiri City Local Museum, and part of the shell mound and several pit dwelling sites were excavated. The small dwelling sites upstream of the group of dwelling sites date to the late Jomon to post-Jomon period, while the large dwelling sites at the river mouth belong to the Okhotsk culture period. The shell mounds are mainly from the Okhotsk culture period, and graves from the Okhotsk culture period have been discovered in and below them. Human bones found in the tomb were found to have been buried in a recumbent position with the head facing northwest, and the remains are known as the Moyoro Shell Mound People. The excavated pottery is jar- or jar-shaped and contains a large amount of sand grains, and is typically characterized by the so-called "somen pattern" of thin clay strings attached in several layers to the rim or upper half of the body. There are also many metal, stone, and bone and horn tools. Distinctive metal tools include iron straight swords with triangular tips, warabi-teto swords, small knives, spears, and axes, as well as bronze and copper bells thought to have been brought over from the continent. It was designated a national historic site in 1936 (Showa 11).

[Takashi Nomura]

"Komai Kazue (ed.), "Ruins on the Okhotsk Coast and Shiretoko Peninsula, Volume 2" (1964, University of Tokyo Press)" ▽ "Yonemura Kiyoe, "Collection of Materials on the Moyoro Shell Mound" (1950, Nomura Shoten)" ▽ "Yonemura Kiyoe, "Moyoro Shell Mound - Discovery of an Ancient Northern Culture" (1969, Kodansha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北海道網走(あばしり)市にある住居址(し)、墓、貝塚からなるオホーツク文化期の集落遺跡。網走川がオホーツク海に注ぐ北岸の砂丘地に位置する。明治中ごろから学界に知られていたが、大正初期より米村喜男衛(きおえ)による調査研究と保護活動の結果、広く世に知られるようになった。1947、48、51年（昭和22、23、26）には、東京大学、北海道大学、網走市立郷土博物館の共同調査が行われ、貝塚の一部と竪穴(たてあな)住居址数基が発掘された。住居址群のうち上流の小型住居址群は縄文時代晩期から続縄文時代のもので、河口部の大型住居址群はオホーツク文化期に属する。貝塚はオホーツク文化期が主体で、その中および下からはオホーツク文化期の墓が検出されている。墓からは北西頭位の仰臥屈葬(ぎょうがくっそう)人骨がみいだされ、モヨロ貝塚人として知られる。出土土器は、砂粒を多く含む甕(かめ)形、壺(つぼ)形で、口縁部や胴上半部に細い粘土紐(ひも)を数段にわたって貼(は)り付けたいわゆる「そうめん文」が代表的である。ほかに多くの金属器、石器、骨角器がある。特徴的な金属器では、切っ先が三角形になる鉄製の直刀や蕨手刀(わらびてとう)、小刀、鉾(ほこ)、斧(おの)があり、また大陸伝来と考えられる青銅や銅製の鈴がある。1936年（昭和11）国の史跡に指定された。

［野村　崇］

『駒井和愛編『オホーツク海岸・知床半島の遺跡　下巻』（1964・東京大学出版会）』▽『米村喜男衛著『モヨロ貝塚資料集』（1950・野村書店）』▽『米村喜男衛著『モヨロ貝塚――古代北方文化の発見』（1969・講談社）』

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