In a major discovery at the Sannai-Maruyama site in Aomori Prefecture, archaeologists have found a cache of remarkably well-preserved clay masks decorated with crushed shell inlays. Dating to the late Jomon Period, these masks feature exaggerated facial expressions and were likely worn during communal dances to mark the transition from winter to spring. The shell inlays would have reflected firelight during nocturnal ceremonies.
Unlike previously discovered Jomon figurines, these masks are life-sized and feature attachment holes for twine. Experts believe they represented forest spirits or ancestors invoked during seasonal festivals to ensure the return of migratory fish and the ripening of nuts. The discovery adds a new dimension to our understanding of the performative aspects of prehistoric Japanese ritual life.