486 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 112 



grave exceeded a depth of 70 centimeters, and the tops of the coffins 

 were just below the plowline. The finding of these graves, while 

 having no bearing on the prehistoric nature of the site, is interesting 

 archeological evidence of the disposal during recent times in Hokkaido 

 of infant dead by burial as opposed to the more common cremation. 

 An elderly local woman (possibly aged 70) witnessed the finding of 

 the graves and claimed that she had not known previously of such 

 graves in this garden. 



Throughout the squares excavated we found many sherds, chips, 

 stone implements, fire-cracked stones, and flecks of charcoal. No 

 restorable vessels were found, though enough sherds were obtained to 

 show shape and approximate size of the pottery. Typical rimsherds 

 found of Yoichi type (Middle Jomon Period) pottery are illustrated 

 in plates 1 and 2. Careful sorting and comparisons of the pottery 

 from each layer reveal no differences between that from the topsoil 

 and that from the deepest layer. It had been hoped that some indi- 

 cation of cultural change would be detectable in the material from 

 such a deep site, but this hope did not materialize. 



A tabulation of ceramic traits from seven squares (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 

 13, and 14) that were least likely to have been disturbed by the pit 

 excavations and by the recent graves is shown in table 1 above. The 

 table reflects the strong cultural conservatism in the pottery, which is 

 marked by the absence of change in surface treatment, design, shape, 

 size, or firing. The only change noted is in the tempering material, 

 which shows a gradual decrease in the use of fibers and pulverized 

 obsidian from early to late and a corresponding increase in the use of 

 grit other than obsidian (see table 2 above). 



Artifacts found in the 26 square meters consisted of the following: 



4000 sherds 1 perforated sherd, 3 cm. square 



204 scrapers 1 perforated pebble of chalcedony 



22 projectile points 1 partially perforated pendant? 



18 celts and fragments 5 tanged knives 



17 abrading stones 4 drills, chipped, obsidian 

 2 chisels with polished blades 



The three pits found were of unknown use or purpose, and they con- 

 tained no concentration of cultural materials. Their sizes and shapes 

 are as follows: 



Charcoal collected from the undisturbed portion of pit 1 below the 

 hardpan level was given a Carbon-14 test by Dr. Meyer Rubin of the 



