circle Japanese Archaeological Periods

NOTES:
Time table may vary according to regions. Mentioned below is applicable to central Japan.
Some of sub periods are in original words. The explanation is in the bottom of this page.
Radiocarbon date (C-14) is different from calendar age which is thought to be absolute date.

Period Sub Period Calender Age C-14 Characteristics
Palaeolithic Early ? -- hoax ?
Late 38ka.~ 35,000 BP~ Knife-blade Culture 1
28ka.~ 25,000 BP~ Knife-blade Culture 2
18ka.~ 15,000 BP~ Microlith Culture
Early Sosoki 16ka.~ 13,000 BP~ Diverse cultures emerged
Jomon Late Sosoki 13ka.~ 10,500 BP~ Pottery territories initiated
Soki 11ka.~ 9,500 BP~  
Zenki 7.2ka.~ 6,100 BP~ Peak of sea level
Chuki 5.5ka.~ 4,800 BP~ Demographic Peak of Jomon
Koki 4.7ka.~ 4,100 BP~  
Banki 3.4ka.~ 3,100 BP~ B.C. 4c. is Yayoi Soki in the west
Yayoi Zenki (Early) B.C. 3c.~2c. The spread of Ongagawa type
Chuki (Middle) B.C. 1c.~A.D.1c.  
Koki (Late) 2c.~3c. Late 3c. is Kofun period
kofun Zenki (Early) 4c. Emergence of Hajiki ware
Chuki (Middle) 5c. Emergence of Sueki ware
Koki (Late) 6c.~7c. Unification of Haji types
Nara/Heian 8c.~12c. Ritsuryo regime
Medieval (Chusei) 13c.~16c. Early half of warrior's times
Proto Modern (Kinsei) 17c.~Middle of19c. Later half of warrior's times
Modern (Kindai) 1867~ Industrial revolution

FOOT NOTE:
Jomon period is divided into 6 sub periods, formerly translated as Incipient (Sub-earliest), Earliest, Early, Middle, Late, and Latest. But, for example, Early Jomon is no more early part of Jomon. I prefer "Zenki" instead of "Early". Zenki is a proper noun. Other sub periods are just the same.


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