vol.22 (2026)
LIN Xin Japanese History, Key words: Early modern Japan, Edo, Gazenbodani site, base timber, wood identification, oxygen isotopic dendrochronology, dendroprovenancing The development of early modern Edo was sustained by an advanced logistics system, in which timber served as an indispensable resource for construction, infrastructure, and daily life. Previous studies relying on documentary evidence and archaeobotanical investigations have identified a major shift in timber use during the 17th century. Coniferous species from natural forests dominated in the early Edo period, whereas from the 18th century, locally available pine and chestnut became more common. However, the timing of this transition and the mechanisms of timber circulation remain unclear, largely due to difficulties in dating and sourcing excavated wood. This study applies oxygen isotope dendrochronology, a recently established method in Japan, to beams (dogi=base timber) from the sewer system of a machiya area at the Gazembodani site in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Three analytical steps were employed: (1) testing consistency between isotope-based felling dates and archaeological contexts, (2) comparing chronological and provenance results with known patterns of timber use, and (3) evaluating findings against previous research on supply sources. The results revealed that Thujopsis dolabrata timbers felled in the late 16th to early 17th century were likely northern Japanese hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondae, Aomori hiba), suggesting that long-distance transport from northern Japan was already in place in early Edo. In contrast, cypress timbers from central Japan date to the mid-17th to early 18th century, confirming the coexistence of multiple supply routes. These findings provide new evidence for the temporal and spatial diversity of timber procurement in Edo and demonstrate the potential of oxygen isotope dendrochronology as a robust tool for reconstructing timber circulation in early modern Japan. |
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