Fukui Cave

cave, Kyushu, Japan

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June 29, 2026

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Fukui Cave, located in Nagasaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan, is significant for its archaeological findings that mark the beginning of the Jōmon period, approximately 10,500 BCE. Excavations revealed shards of early pottery, characterized by applied and incised decorative elements. This period, known as the Incipient Jōmon, shows a slight advancement from the Paleolithic stage, with inhabitants gradually becoming more settled and adapting to their environment. The pottery found, dated through radiocarbon dating, is considered among the earliest in Japan and provides crucial insights into the prehistoric cultures of the region.12

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Japanese art
Jōmon period
…of stratified layers in the Fukui Cave, Nagasaki prefecture in northwestern Kyushu, yielded shards of dirt-brown pottery with applied and incised or impressed decorative elements in linear relief and parallel ridges. The pottery was low-fired, and reassembled pieces are generally minimally decorated and have a small round-bottomed shape. Radiocarbon dating…
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…of stratified layers in the Fukui Cave, Nagasaki prefecture in northwestern Kyushu, yielded shards of dirt-brown pottery with applied and incised or impressed decorative elements in linear relief and parallel ridges. The pottery was low-fired, and reassembled pieces are generally minimally decorated and have a small round-bottomed shape. Radiocarbon dating…
Read More