Between Farmers and Fisher-Gatherers: Pottery Organic Residue Analysis of the Northern Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Shinya Shoda1*, Natsuki Murakami2, Alexandre Lucquin3, Naoko Nakamura4, Hiroto Takamiya4, and Oliver E. Craig3

The Ryukyu Islands, situated to the south of the Japanese archipelago, developed a distinct culture known as the Southern Islands Kaizuka (Shellmidden) Period Culture, differing from the agricultural culture that unfolded across much of Mainland Japan during the Yayoi and Kofun periods (ca. 10th century BCE to 3rd century CE). However, there exists a region between the two that is difficult to define as belonging to either, located in the northern end of the Ryukyu Islands. Here, this paper analysed pottery sherds excavated from four sites in the northern part of Ryukyu Island of this period, to understand to what extent agricultural and fishing-gathering economies reflected cooking in this period. As a result, evidence was found of seafood and terrestrial animals being cooked in the same context at each site. Furthermore, a complex picture emerged, suggesting partial influence from C₃ plants and the potential contribution of C₄ plants. This complex outcome itself may in fact reveal the complexity of livelihoods and cooking practices in this region.