Incisions description (parallel, curved and even impressions).
Inclusions characterization (color, shape and size).
Cross section characterization (in case of visible layers).
Backscattered Images acquired by Scanning Electron Microscopy at 50x and 100x magnification. Images from right to left top and bottom surface 1 to 5 at 50 x. Image 6 at 100x.
This wild boar jawbone from Yayoi-era Minamikata settlement bears clear signs of deliberate craftsmanship, with both branches of the jaw expertly perforated.
It is believed that such jaws were hung outside dwellings, either for ritual purposes or perhaps as a display of the household prosperity.
Initial examination of cranial deformities suggests that the animal was likely non-domesticated or showed minimal signs of domestication.
Shell from the Minamikata site
This seashell hails from the excavation of Minamikata, an ancient Yayoi-era settlement nestled within the bustling heart of present-day Okayama, Shimane Prefecture. It's a tangible relic of the ingenious resourcefulness of the local inhabitants, who ingeniously fashioned everyday tools and ceremonial artifacts from shells and bones. In all likelihood, this particular shell served as a spoon, a function it shares with other shells discovered in the vicinity.
Boar skull from the Minamikata site
This sizable wild boar skull, unearthed from the Minamikata site dating back to the Yayoi period, appears to exhibit distinct signs of domestication by the local populace. The domestication process often involves a reduction in defensive features, such as horns and tusks, as well as a decrease in cranial size. In the case of wild boars, it results in a flattening of the cranial structure, making it more akin to that of domestic pigs.
