THE PREHISTORIC SUBSISTENCE ACTIVITY ON THE ISLAND OF MIYAKO, RYUKYU ISLANDS.

共设置12×4米的挖掘单元，以适应到第四期的挖掘面积。今年的研究达到了V层，在IV层遇到了壳集中的特征，这被解释为无菌中间层。在阿拉福遗址发现了50多件形态各异的Tridacna贝壳，以及由Chiragra蜘蛛海螺(Lambis Lambis)和双壳类贝类和哺乳动物骨骼制成的工具。Tridacna贝壳还根据其亚种的不同生产几种其他类型的工具，就像凿子一样，该遗址包含相当数量的薄片和几种贝壳物种的碎屑。考虑到炮弹的广泛使用，这些炮弹应该是在制造过程结束时带到现场的。银口涡虫和尼罗非鱼合计占贝类总数的80%，一直被认为是主要的生存问题。涡轮银口鱼显示了它们贝壳上的钻探。贝壳的穿孔形状和成型下部的形状均一、规范。这些特征暗示了这种贝壳的其他用途，而不是饮食。对这个网站的研究仍在进行中。台珊瑚的特征和坑的特征仍未得到解决，需要进一步调查。第一届至第五届的研究报告将于2003年7月发布。

The excavation units of totally 12 by 4 m were set adjusting to the area excavated till the fourth term. This year's research reached Layer V. The feature of shell concentration was encountered in Layer IV, which has been interpreted as the sterile intermediate layer. There were Tridacna shell adzes, tools made of Chiragra spider conch (Lambis lambis) and bivalves and mammal bones were scarce.More than fifty Tridacna shell adzes were collected with the various types of shape at Arafu Site including surface collection. Tridacna shell also produces several other types of tools along the variation of its subspecies, as like chisels, This site contains the considerable amount of flakes and debitage of several shell species. These shells are supposed to have been brought in the site at the end of manufacturing process, considering the wide range of shell utilization. Turbo argyrostomus and Trochus niloticus Tectus together occupies the 80% of total amount of shells and were though to have been the main concern of subsistence. Turbo argyrostomus shows the drilling on their shells. Uniformity and standardization were observed on the shape of perforation and the form of shaped -out lower parts of shell. These characteristics suggest other use of this shell than diet.The research of this site is stilt ongoing. The characters of table corals and pit features still remain unresolved and require further investigations. The report of research from the first through fifth term is coming on July 2003.