The Jomon in early agriculture discourse: issues arising from Matsui, Kanehara and Pearson

Two articles in World Archaeology (2006) raise issues regarding the long-standing classification of the Jomon as collectors and affluent foragers. Crops and food production have not played a significant role in understanding Jomon settlement systems, population density, complexity and their regional variation despite the reports of crops from numerous Jomon sites. A misunderstanding of one of my publications provides an opportunity to assess why the Jomon is understood the way it is in some circles. I also critically assess the affluent forager/collector model and the role that analogies with the Ainu play in the model. Agricultural origins theory tends to eschew classifying people as hunter-gatherers/foragers or agricultural and I argue that such should be the case for the Jomon. By acknowledging a significant role for food/resource production among Jomon populations we may arrive at a better understanding of Jomon populations and how they interacted with the environment. The comparative potential of the Jomon in the context of agricultural archaeology can also be realized.