Representative examples of Yayoi culture and
Cultural exchange in East Asia before the Common Era

Around the 10th century BC, the introduction of wet rice culture from the continent to northern Kyushu marked the beginning of the Yayoi period in Japan. Social changes brought about by wet rice led to conflicts. This led to the formation of highly defensible moated settlements, such as the Yoshinogari and Harunotsuji ruins. In addition to rice cultivation, the Yayoi period also saw the introduction of continental burial systems such as dolmens and earthenware burial jars. This cultural exchange can be seen not only in archaeological remains, but also in the names of countries such as Nakoku and Itokuni that appear in Chinese historical texts. The Yayoi ruins in northern Kyushu are not only representative examples of the Yayoi culture, but also provide insight into cultural exchanges in East Asia before the Common Era.