Jomon Longhouse

Sannai Maruyama Site
Aomori, Japan

The reconstructed longhouse dates to 2000 BC. It is a large pit building that probably functioned as a workshop, or as a place for communal gatherings.

The longhouse seen here is one of several whose remnants have been found on-site. Unlike the much later Longhouses of North America, these are not, aparently, family dwellings. The reconstructed Six-Pillared Building (later page) is seen at photo left.