1971 Volume 79 Issue 1 Pages 55-60
Two human infant remains were found under the rock of the rockshelter site of Tochibara, Kita-Aiki-Mura, Minami-Saku-Gun, Nagano Prefecture (The Earliest Stage of Jomon Period). Based on the teeth, two children were estimated to be 3 years and half, and 5 years and half. Skeletons were laid so that they ran away. A cleft on ilium suggests a heavy bruise. They were pressed to death by a falling rock, which was seperated from the ceiling of the shelter. A snail shell, ornaments of cone shell and berry nuclei of Aphananthe aspera were enearthed with these remains. Two fire-places were near them. The case was the earliest death by accident in Japan, because this site are estimated 8, 650 years B. P., according to C14 method.