Research on Human Evolution and History of Population Formation
Objective
We aim to elucidate the origins and evolutionary processes of humankind, as well as the origins, microevolution, and migration and dispersal processes of the Japanese people and related regional populations.
Background
In Japan, there are far fewer universities and research institutions engaged in biological anthropology compared to those in Europe and the United States, making the role of the Department of Anthropology at Kahaku in this field particularly significant.
As such, we have a responsibility to consistently lead research into the origins and evolution of humankind, a topic that could be considered central to the field of biological anthropology, as well as the origins and evolution of the Japanese people.
The mission of the Kahaku rests on three pillars: (1) Research, (2) Collection, and (3) Exhibitions and Education. While our research and collection activities are advanced through integrated and basic research, sustained and long-term basic research
is particularly crucial for building our collection because human skeletal remains cannot always be acquired on demand. As an institution playing a part in the nation's administration, we have a duty to disseminate the findings of our research based on
these accumulated materials to both the academic community and the general public.
Integrated research under the previous medium-term plan ("Research on the Movement, Dispersal, and Variation of Homo sapiens in East Asia"), along with externally funded research from the same period, (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid
for Scientific Research, Basic Research (S)) "Synthetic Research on the Transition of the Japanese from the Pleistocene to the Jomon and Yayoi Periods"), has yielded findings that call for a re-examination of phylogenetic relationships, such as that between
the Jomon people and the Pleistocene-era Minatogawa Man from Okinawa. However, many questions regarding the population history of East Asia, including the Japanese archipelago, remain unresolved.
Current State of the Anthropological Collection
Anthropological materials include items like ancient human skeletal remains, fossil replicas, and finger and palm prints. The size of the ancient human skeletal remains collection, in particular, varies significantly depending on the region
and historical period (see Reference Materials 1, 2, and 3).
Progress in databasing the collections varies depending on the level of organization and research for each.
Research Plan
Common Policies
While continuing to collect specimens and materials related to human evolution, as well as the microevolution, migration, and dispersal of the Japanese people and related regional populations, our main focus this term will be on reconstructing the history
of population formation on the Japanese archipelago from the late Pleistocene to the Jomon period.
Plan Overview for Individual Taxonomic Groups (Five-Year Medium-Term Plan)
Pleistocene Humans
Conduct morphological and molecular anthropological re-examinations of Pleistocene human skeletal remains discovered in Japan to infer and reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships with Pleistocene humans in other parts of Asia and with the Jomon people
of Japan.
Holocene Humans
In order to clarify the true nature of the people of the early Jomon period, which remains poorly understood due to the scarcity of excavated specimens, focus on researching the large number of human skeletal remains from these periods that have been
recently discovered or inadequately analyzed.
Department of Anthropology: Collection Policy
Ancient Human Skeletal Remains
It is virtually impossible for us to collect ancient human skeletal remain specimens by visiting excavation sites ourselves. As a general rule, we receive such materials when they are recovered through administrative excavations and are entrusted to us
at the request of the relevant parties. Therefore, while it is not feasible to establish a proactive collection policy, we consistently receive such requests, and our collection of materials continue to grow based on our basic policy of accepting these
requests whenever possible. We intend to continue this policy to further expand our collection of ancient human skeletal remain specimens.
Replicas of Fossils, etc.
When it comes to replicas of fossils and other items, some can be purchased, while others can only be acquired through exchanges once a relationship of trust is established with the researchers concerned. While we have already acquired a substantial number
of the replicas available for purchase, we plan to bolster the areas where our collection is still lacking. As for items that cannot be purchased, we will also persistently pursue negotiations for exchanges and other similar arrangements.
Other
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in cases where materials relevant to anthropological research—such as ancient human skeletal remains, fossil replicas, and human mummies—can no longer be properly curated following departmental reorganizations
or researcher transfers. The Department of Anthropology is always mindful of its role as a safety net to prevent these valuable materials from being dispersed or even discarded. This is also important for expanding our collection, particularly with materials
such as ancient human skeletal remains, which are not necessarily easy to acquire these days. In fact, we have been accepting specimen collections for this purpose since 2007, including the fossil replica collection from the Anthropological Laboratory
at Rikkyo University and the Modern Human Skull Collection from the Department of Anatomy at Juntendo University.
While we currently have no plans to actively collect finger and palm prints, we intend to accept any similar offers of donation that may arise in the future.
Department of Anthropology: Collection of Ancient Human Skeletal Remains
Period
Number of Archaeological Sites
Number of Specimens
Registered Specimens
Jomon
12 archaeological sites
36 specimens
Yayoi
1 archaeological site
4 specimens
Kofun
42 archaeological sites
311 specimens
Kodai (Antiquity)
5 archaeological sites
12 specimens
Chusei (Middle Ages)
31 archaeological sites
389 specimens
Kinsei (Early Modern)
96 archaeological sites
3395 specimens
Other
14 archaeological sites
207 specimens
Specimens from the University of Tokyo
Jomon
4 archaeological sites
56 specimens
Chusei (Middle Ages)
6 archaeological sites
774 specimens
Approximate Number of Human Skeletal Remain Specimens Held by Universities and Research Institutions Nationwide