Introduction and Use of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (lacquer tree) during the Prehistoric Jomon Period in Japan

摘要

In Japan, lacquered artefacts and remains of lacquer processing became common items in the early Jomon period beginning at ca. 6300 B.P. (ca. 5300 cal B.C.). However, there was no archaeobotanical evidence that Rhus verniciflua (lacquer tree), which is thought to be a prehistoric introduction from China on botanical grounds, grew in Japan until its distinction in wood structure from those of native Rhus species was clarified in 2004. This new refinement in identification revealed that R. verniciflua commonly grew in middle to northern Honshu since the early Jomon period. The results indicated that Rhus verniciflua was planted commonly around settlements since the early Jomon period and was regarded by the prehistoric people as an important item among the surrounding natural resources. In the Jomon periods, lacquer was used not only as paint, but also as glue or modeling material, and the trees were used not just for lacquer collection, but also for building in the lowland. At the Shimo-yakebe site, Tokyo, for example, more than one hundred of its trees were employed for rows of stakes in a river together with Castanea crenata. Thus people at the Shimo-yakebe site first collected lacquer from Rhus verniciflua trees planted around settlements and then felled and used their timber for lowland construction. Similar usage of Rhus verniciflua trees during the Jomon period for lowland construction is commonly found in central and northern Honshu, and the Jomon people clearly recognized the durability of Rhus verniciflua timber in such waterlogged conditions. Traditionally the Jomon people was regarded as plain hunter-gathers until ten to twenty years ago. Usage of Rhus verniciflua trees during the Jomon period shows introduction, plantation, management, and various employments of plant resources in this period and clearly denies the simple schema for the lives of this prehistoric people.