We led by Gakuhari, are conducting paleogenomic analyses of human remains excavated from archaeological sites across Japan, (Cooke et al. 2021). Since human remains are particularly likely to be excavated from shell middens along the coast, we deemed it necessary to investigate materials excavated from caves in the inland areas of the Chugoku region. We applied for permission from the Shobara City Board of Education, the Jiyukan Museum, and Hiroshima University, and were granted the opportunity to re-examine, including paleogenomic analysis, the human remains excavated in the 1966 survey at the Taishaku-Nagoe Rock Shelter, a representative site in this region.
1. Analysis of the skull morphology of Male Skeleton No. 1, excavated from the Taishaku-Nagoe Rock Shelter in 1966, revealed significant differences compared to human remains excavated from the Taishaku-kyo sites belonging to the Jomon Age.
2. The male skeletal remains (No. 1) excavated from the Taishaku-Nagoe Rock Shelter in 1966 showed some similarity to male skeletal remains excavated from the Yoshimohama Site in the western Chugoku region and the Hakata Sites in northern Kyushu in the Middle Age, as well as to those from sites within Fukuoka City during the early Modern Age. However, significant differences were observed in the upper facial part compared to the remains from the Yoshimohama Site.
3. Radiocarbon dating (AMS method) revealed that the male skeleton No. 1 excavated in 1966 from the Taishaku-Nagoe Rock Shelter Site dates from the late Middle Age to the Early Modern Age.
