Importance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhus verniciflua</Emphasis> Stokes (lacquer tree) in prehistoric periods in Japan,deduced from identification of its fossil woods |
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Authors: | Shuichi Noshiro Mitsuo Suzuki Yuka Sasaki |
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Institution: | (1) Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba Norin, P.O. Box 16, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan;(2) Botanical Gardens, Tohoku University, Kawauchi, Aoba Sendai, 980-0862, Japan;(3) Paleo Labo Co., Ltd., Shimomae 1-13-22, Toda Saitama, 355-0016, Japan |
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Abstract: | In Japan, lacquered artifacts and remains of lacquer processing became common items in the early Jomon period beginning at
ca. 6300 b.p. (ca. 5300 cal b.c.). However, there was no archaeobotanical evidence that Rhus verniciflua (lacquer tree), which is thought to be a prehistoric introduction from China on botanical grounds, grew in Japan until its
distinction in wood structure from those of native Rhus species was clarified in 2004. Based on this new refinement in identification, 573 Rhus fossil woods so far reported from various archaeological sites in Japan were re-identified. The results showed that R. verniciflua commonly grew in middle to northern Honshu since the early Jomon period and that it may have been introduced from China with
other cultivated plants before that time. During the Jomon period, R. verniciflua trees were used not just for lacquer collection, but also for building in the lowland which exploited their durability in
waterlogged conditions. |
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Keywords: | Japan Jomon period Lacquer tree Plant introduction Rhus verniciflua Timber usage |
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