The Miraculous Prehistory of the Amami and Okinawa Archipelagos

The terms “miraculous” or “miracle” do not typically apply when explaining scientific phenomena. However, the prehistoric cultural phenomena of the Amami and Okinawa archipelagos, located at the heart of the Ryukyu Islands, can best be described as extraordinary or even miraculous in nature. Prehistory generally refers to the period before written records, and more specifically, it denotes a time span during which people existed without documented history. In the case of the Amami and Okinawa archipelagos, prehistory spans approximately from 30,000 years ago to 1,000 years ago. It is divided into three main periods: the Paleolithic (around 30,000 to 10,000 years ago), the Shellmidden period (around 7,000 to 900 years ago), and the Gusuku period (900 to 500 years ago). Recent archaeological and anthropological research in these regions has uncovered several cultural phenomena that are unparalleled in the context of island archaeology worldwide.