Taphonomic Observation of Late Pleistocene Human Remains from the Shiraho-Saonetabaru Cave Site Reveals the Evidence of Fuso Mortuary Practice

NAGASHIMA Moe1*, KATAGIRI Chiaki2, OYABU Yumiko3, SATO Takao4, and KONO Reiko T.5

The excavations at the Shiraho-Saonetabaru Cave site on Ishigaki Island found several cultural layers from the Late Pleistocene to the early modern times. More than 1,200 fragmented human skeletal remains, including approximately 20 individuals, were unearthed mainly from the late Late Pleistocene layers. The distribution of these remains resembles that of the human bones treated by fuso, a traditional Ryukyuan funeral practice, in which corpses were left on the ground until the flesh was fully decomposed. Also, it has been pointed out that there are many rodent bite marks on the surface of these remains. These findings suggest that this cave was possibly used as a cemetery for fuso, where the bodies were exposed on the ground surface for some duration after death. This study further investigates the rodent gnaw marks on these remains, to validate such possibility. We confirm that the widths of the marks are mostly consistent with those of the rodent incisors excavated from the site. We have found two types of marks, supposedly made during the bones were either wet or dry. This suggests that some remains were lying exposed on the ground surface from when flesh was attached to the bones until they were completely decomposed. In addition, it is suggested that the distribution of marks reflects the posture of the body. Moreover, the gnaw marks were found throughout the excavated area and archaeological layers. The evidence collectively suggests that this cave was used as a fuso graveyard in the Late Pleistocene.