Ōhora Shell Mound

During the early to middle Jōmon period (approximately 4000 to 2500 BC), sea levels were five to six meters higher than at present, and the ambient temperature was also 2 deg C higher. During this period, the Tōhoku region was inhabited by the Jōmon people, many of whom lived in coastal settlements. The middens associated with such settlements contain bone, botanical material, mollusc shells, sherds, lithics, and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with the now-vanished inhabitants, and these features, provide a useful source into the diets and habits of Jōmon society. Most of these middens are found along the Pacific coast of Japan. The rocky ria coast of Iwate Prefecture was densely settled from the early through late Jōmon period, and the locations of such coastal settlements are often marked by shell middens containing the remains of shellfish, fish, animal and whale bones and human-produced artifacts, including earthenware shards, fishing hooks, etc.

The rocky rias coast of Iwate Prefecture was densely settled from the early through late Jōmon period. In particular, the deeply indented Ōfunato Bay area was a rich fishing ground and is the location of 16 known Jōmon-period shell middens, a number of which have been designated National Historic Sites. The Ōhora Shell Midden dates from the late Jōmon period, and is located at an elevation of 31 meters above the present sea level, on a small peninsula on the east side of the bay.

The midden consists of two separate groups of mounds, which were first excavated in 1925 by the Tohoku Imperial University and again in 2002. The type of pottery found at this site was of a type widely distributed throughout the Tōhoku region and into southern Hokkaido. The shell middens are between a grouping of kofun to the east and the remains of a residential area to the west, which is in turn surrounded by more shell middens on its far side, indicating a very long period of residency. In some cases, the middens were over one meter thick. The contents was overwhelmingly shellfish; however, bones from Sitka deer, wild boar, and numerous species of fish and birds were also discovered. Carved bone implements, such as fishhooks and harpoons, spoons and other artifacts were also discovered.

In 1925, archaeologist Kiyo Yamauchi published a dissertation outlining the chronological order of the Jōmon earthenware, based on the difference in design of earthenware recovered from these middens.

The site was backfilled after excavation, and nothing remains above ground but an explanatory plaque. The site is located approximately five minutes on foot from Rikuzen-Akasaki Station on the Sanriku Railway Rias Line.

• List of Historic Sites of Japan (Iwate)

• Iwate Prefecture site (in Japanese)
• Ofunato city home page (in Japanese)