Amazing AOMORI

The Komakino Site is characterized by one of the largest stone circles in Japan, which was created in the first half of the late Jomon period, and is located on a tongue-shaped plateau between the Arakawa and Iriuchi Rivers in Aomori City's Nozawa-Aza Komakino area.

The Komakino site's stone circles are 55 meters in diameter. These stones are thought to have been transported from the Arakawa River area about 500m to 1km east of the site, so it is not hard to imagine that they must have been quite labor intensive.

The way of laying out the stones is different from other archaeological sites in that the stones are not just laid out horizontally, but are placed vertically in an oval shape, and several flat stones are placed on both sides to form a three-dimensional stone wall. This method, which is rare in Japan, is called "Komakino style" arrangement (stone arrangement).

In addition to traces of daily life such as pit dwellings, many other artifacts have been found, especially triangular rock slabs, which are representative of the Komakino site, and more than 400 of them have been confirmed so far. It is thought that these rock slabs were used in places where many people gathered for rituals.

The Jomon Learning House Komakino-kan, located near the ruins, is a guidance facility that was renovated from an abandoned elementary school. Excavated artifacts and explanatory panels are on display, and visitors can enjoy learning about the Komakino Ruins. At the museum store, unique and playful goods such as "Jomon Dogu Knit Cap" are available, so be sure to check it out.

In July 2021, the Jomon Monuments of Hokkaido and the Northern Tohoku Region, consisting of 17 sites in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Akita Prefectures, were registered as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The "Jomon Sites of Hokkaido and the Northern Tohoku Region" in Aomori Prefecture are the following eight sites. Please visit the World Heritage sites in Aomori Prefecture.

Sannai-Maruyama Site

Komakino Site

Omori Katsuyama Site

Korekawa Stone Age Site

Tagoyano Shell Mound

Kameoka Stone Age Site

Ohira-Yamamoto Site

Futatsumori Shell Mound