Seasonal utilization patterns of sika deer (Cervus nippon) remains from eastern Japan utilizing radiographs of mandibular molariform teeth

Abstract

This study investigates the utilization of sika deer (Cervus nippon) based on radiographs of mandibular bones from two Jomon period archaeological sites in the Shimousa Heights, northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The author analyzed the age at death of sika deer by examining the development of mandibular molariform teeth through radiographic methods. The findings suggest that sika deer were predominantly used during winter, indicating seasonal concentration in their exploitation. These patterns are consistent across the two sites. Building on these findings and previous research, the author proposes that activities such as hunting and shellfish gathering at these sites were not only for subsistence but also facilitated resource exchange. Consequently, sika deer likely served as a medium for trading fisheries resources, highlighting the seasonal dynamics of animal utilization and resource exchange.