Ancient Jomon of Japan (Case Studies in Early Societies) (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: kanjo dori, lacquered artifacts, exquisite grave goods, Middle Jomon, Late Jomon, Sannai Maruyama (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"comprehensive and well-written...This book represents a break from authoritative and often stifling academic traditions in Japan." Canadian Journal of Archaeology Aubrey Cannon, McMaster University

Product Description

Despite an incredibly rich prehistory covering nearly ten thousand years, modern coverage of complex hunter-gatherer societies has tended to overlook the Jomon of Japan. This text presents an overview of the archaeology of the Jomon Period between 10,000 and 300 BC within the context of more recent complex hunter-gatherer societies. It bridges the gap between academic traditions in Japanese and Anglo-American archaeology and represents an invaluable source of reflection on the development of human complexity.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521776708
• ISBN-13: 978-0521776707
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,052,094 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Starter For Most, January 13, 2007

By	Bu-chan (Aotearoa) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Junko Habu's "Ancient Jomon of Japan" is a heavily archeaological book, in that it really focuses on the archaeology of the period. This really is a book to avoid of those details really do not interest you. If you can wade through them, or that is what you are looking for, then this book is for you.

There are broad sections, such as mortuary practices, subsistence strategies and trade networks that all contribute to build up a comprehensive introduction to the Jomon people and culture, (which flourished c. 14,500 - 300 B.C.).

As mentioned, Habu does discuss actual sites in detail, and it is here that she builds up a remarkable picture of what people have found and what they have understood it to mean or indicate. In this sense, I found the book to be very interesting and informative.

It is the first book I have read on the Jomon Period, and I found it to be very readable and very understandable. I enjoyed reading it, and I would imagine anyone curious about the Jomon Period would also find it a fascinating book. I can certainly recommend it to you.

4.0 out of 5 stars Stunning book on a little known culture, September 17, 2009

By	Jacqualyn Saunders "alkudsi" (Carrollton, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book because I am doing some research into the history of weaving -- and this book has some extremely good information on that topic. But what kept me reading half of the night was not just the information I was looking for, but a glimse into a culture little known in the Western world. The author does researchers and just-plain-interested readers a big favor: excerpts from other research originally written in Japanese have been well translated and interspersed with Habu's own research in a style not usually seen in Western books.

And that information covers a really amazing range of topics, from the stunning Jomon pottery (such as the one on the cover), to basketry, weaving, lacquerware, textiles, and other art forms from this culture dating back to nearly 10,000 BCE. Interesting little tidbits (such as the black lacquer was made from the sap of the poison oak tree) are juxtapositioned with stunning assessments of arts you can hardly believe are as old as they are.

Assessible for those just interested in history as well as serious researchers, I'm thrilled to have this book on my shelves!

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not enough photography, August 2, 2008

By	A. Lemaster - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was a disappointed in the fact that all the illustrations in the book were sketched rather than photographed. In an art form such as pottery illustrations are very important!