The Pit Houses of the Jomon Architecture Period

THE PIT HOUSES OF THE JOMON ARCHITECTURE PERIOD
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The Pit Houses of the Jomon Architecture Period
Japan’s art seamlessly connects with other artistic and cultural developments around the world. From the traditional aesthetic expressions to the contemporary art, it is easy to see a relationship between the structures made during a specific famous Japanese architectural period and the modern architecture. The Jomon period is one of Japan’s Neolithic period, in which people searched for food through traditional approaches that included hunting, gathering, and fishing. The community often moved to cooler or warmer areas depending on the prevailing climate. The main type of construction in this period was the pit house, which consisted of wood structures. A critical analysis of the structure shows a distinct correlation between the architectural forms of this period and those of the contemporary architectural sector. Different architects around the world have adopted this structure with slight changes in design to suit the cultures and functionality. In addition, the modern designs differ from the traditional pit houses in terms of the materials used for the construction process.[Coman, Sonia. “Art and Architecture of Japan, Ancient Jomon to Medieval Heian Periods.” Brewminate, April 24, 2020. https://brewminate.com/art-and-architecture-of-japan-ancient-jomon-to-medieval-heian-periods/.]
The earliest forms of Japanese architecture can be traced back to the Jomon period. Communities in these period evolved with time and abandoned their hunting and gathering culture and instead adopted a more sedimentary tradition characterized by agriculture and intensive fishing. The main type of construction of this period was the pit house, predominantly made of wood. The inner posts were made of timber as shown in fig. 2, and helped support the roof, which comprised several layers of straw and other dry vegetation. The shapes of the houses differed slightly from each other. While some houses were circular, others appeared elongated and were partially submerged into the ground to help keep the interior warm. Moreover, some structures had floor paved with flagstones. The locals mainly used the houses as shelter and also cooking and storing small quantities of goods. The buildings also had fireplaces inside the houses to help keep the insects away and provide warmth against the outside cold.[Hays, Jeffrey. “Jomon Housing and Villages.” Facts and Details, 2019. https://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat16/sub105/entry-5608.html.]
The structures had openings on the upper part of the roof to allow smoke to escape. Many houses were build close to each other in a semi-circular arrangement. This arrangement provided a common outdoor passage for the people to use especially during ceremonies and for the production of various craft objects. Certain communities used it for burials. The villages served several purposes, including housing, burying the dead, producing crafts, and performing rituals. Some settlements had raised structures that resembled the pit houses but adopted a square layout without any openings on the roof. These served as ...