The Story ofMichinoku Gold

Located near the center of the Sanriku Coast at the head of Ofunato Bay, this archaeological site dates back to the Final Jomon period. The settlement was centered on a hill 31 meters above sea level on a small peninsula on the eastern side of the bay, and it is designated as a National Historic Site.

Pottery unearthed at the Ōhora Shell Mound led to the discovery that archaeological periods could be categorized by tracing changes in vessel shapes and decorative patterns. This style, known as “Ōhora-style pottery,” is regarded as the standard model for pottery that spread from the Tohoku region to southern Hokkaido toward the end of the Jomon period. These research findings enabled the detailed chronological classification of pottery across Japan, establishing the site as one of the most significant landmarks in the history of Japanese archaeology.