Sannai-Maruyama Historical Site

About this Attraction

The Sannai-Maruyama Historical Site, located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, is a significant archaeological site that offers a window into the Jōmon period, dating from approximately 3900 to 2200 BCE. Discovered during construction work in 1992, the site revealed a vast settlement spanning about 40 hectares, making it one of the largest and most well-preserved Jōmon sites in Japan.

Excavations have uncovered over 500 pit dwellings, longhouses, storage pits, and a notable six-pillared structure believed to have served ceremonial or communal purposes. Artifacts such as pottery, stone tools, lacquerware, and items made from jade and obsidian indicate a complex society engaged in trade and possessing advanced craftsmanship.

Visitors to the site can explore reconstructed dwellings and structures, providing a tangible sense of Jōmon life. The adjacent Sannai-Maruyama Jōmon Culture Center offers exhibits of excavated artifacts and interactive displays. The site was designated a Special National Historic Site in 2000 and became part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan in 2021.

Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the site provides an immersive experience into Japan's prehistoric era, highlighting the ingenuity and cultural richness of the Jōmon people.