Human mandibles and maxillae with tooth extraction signs of the Late-Final Jomon period from the Daimyojin site, Okuwa Village

Intentional tooth extraction, practiced in the Japanese Islands during the Jomon period, is considered a symbolic act reflecting social affiliation. This paper examines 17 human jawbones, likely recovered during the 1962 excavation at the Daimyojin site in Nagano Prefecture, and belonging to the Late–Final Jomon period. Anatomical observations confirmed that all specimens were human and showed signs of both tooth loss and burning. Alveolar socket closure was most frequent in the canines, suggesting intentional extraction. These specimens provide additional evidence of symbolic bodily modification during the Jomon period, shedding light on social practices within Jomon culture.