Research of Wooden Materials for Revealing a Utilization of the Paleoenvironment in Ainu Culture.

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The research’s purpose was to clarify the utilization of woods as materials to build dwellings in Ainu culture. We analyzed woods excavated at “Tokorogawakakou ”site, in Kitami city, eastern area of Hokkaido. We made the woods identify by optical microscope. It led us to the conclusion that the woods were composed of studs, and a total of 18 taxa was identified, approximately 90% of the excavated woods were broadleaf tree (Salix, Quercus, Fraxinus,etc). We compered the results of this identification with the data at Bibi no.8 site and Yukanboshi C15 site in Citose city, the central part of Hokkaido. We concluded that in Ainu culture, the people took the timbers from surrounding forest, and selected the species for building dwellings. Finally, we identified that one of the woods was Fagus. This was first time that materials coming from Fagus were discovered at the historic site in eastern area of Hokkaido.