Editing Okinawa Prefecture (section)

=== Prehistoric and ancient history ===
The prehistoric history of Okinawa differs significantly from that of mainland Japan. Prior to written records, it is generally divided into two periods: [[Paleolithic era|the Paleolithic era]] and [[Shellmidden Period|the Shellmidden period]] (Kaizuka period).<ref name="rekishi">{{cite book |author=安里進, 高良倉吉, 田名真之, 豊見山和行, 西里喜行, 真栄平房昭 |title=沖縄県の歴史 (History of Okinawa Prefecture) |year=2004 |publisher=山川出版社 (Yamakawa Publishing) |location=Tokyo |isbn=4-634-32470-9 |language=ja}}</ref>{{rp|14}} The earliest evidence of human activity in Okinawa includes the [[Yamashita Cave Man]], dating back approximately 32,000 years, and the [[Minatogawa Man]] from around 18,000 years ago.<ref name="rekishi" />{{rp|14}} In 2012, the world's oldest known fishhook was discovered in the [[Sakitari Cave]] site in [[Nanjō|Nanjo]] City, Okinawa Prefecture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sitereports.nabunken.go.jp/files/attach/31/31818/22515_1_%E6%B2%96%E7%B8%84%E7%9C%8C%E5%8D%97%E5%9F%8E%E5%B8%82%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AD%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AA%E6%B4%9E%E9%81%BA%E8%B7%A1%E7%99%BA%E6%8E%98%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%BB%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A%E6%9B%B8.pdf |title=Excavation Report of the Sakitari Cave Site, Nanjo City, Okinawa |publisher=National Research Institute for Cultural Properties |access-date=2020-08-29 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829164831/https://sitereports.nabunken.go.jp/files/attach/31/31818/22515_1_%E6%B2%96%E7%B8%84%E7%9C%8C%E5%8D%97%E5%9F%8E%E5%B8%82%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AD%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AA%E6%B4%9E%E9%81%BA%E8%B7%A1%E7%99%BA%E6%8E%98%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%BB%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A%E6%9B%B8.pdf |archive-date=2020-08-29 }}</ref>

The '''[[Shellmidden Period]]''' in Okinawa roughly corresponds to the [[Jōmon period|Jōmon]] through [[Heian period|Heian periods]] of mainland [[Japan]], with a chronological gap of about 10,000 years from the Paleolithic era.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=沖縄県 |title=沖縄県の縄文時代｜沖縄県公式ホームページ |url=https://www.pref.okinawa.jp/bunkakoryu/bunkageijutsu/1009673/1009695/1009717/1009719.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=沖縄県公式ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>

At the '''[[Kogachibaru Shell Mound]]''', archaeological findings include pottery styles such as '''[[Sobata style pottery|Sobata]]''' and '''[[Ichiki style pottery|Ichiki]]''', which originate from the [[Kyushu]] region, obsidian from '''[[Koshidake (Japanese mountain)|Koshidake]]''' in [[Saga Prefecture]], and jade from '''[[Itoigawa]]''' in [[Niigata Prefecture]] used for ornamental pendants. These discoveries indicate that close exchanges with [[Kyushu]] were already taking place during this time.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=古我地原貝塚 - 沖縄県 - 行ってみよう〜全国遺跡・博物館マップ〜 |url=https://kids-kouko.com/historical_site/kyushu_okinawa/pref_okinawa/859/#:~:text=%E5%8F%A4%E6%88%91%E5%9C%B0%E5%8E%9F%E8%B2%9D%E5%A1%9A%EF%BC%88%E3%81%93%E3%81%8C,%E3%81%8C%E3%81%A4%E3%81%8F%E3%82%89%E3%82%8C%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=全国こども考古学教室 |language=ja}}</ref>

However, by the middle of the  '''[[Shellmidden Period]]''', Okinawan pottery began to exhibit clearly localized characteristics. Examples include the '''Iha''' and '''Ogido''' pottery styles, which are distinct to the region.<ref name=":0" />

In contrast to the Shellmidden culture of Okinawa Island, which was influenced primarily by mainland Japan, the prehistoric cultures of the [[Miyako Island|Miyako]] and [[Yaeyama Islands]] were shaped more significantly by southern cultures, including those from the [[Philippines]].<ref name="history">{{cite book |author=新城俊昭 |title=琉球・沖縄史 (History of Ryukyu and Okinawa) |publisher=東洋企画 (Toyo Planning) |year=2007 |isbn=978-4-938984-17-5 |location=Okinawa |language=ja}}</ref>{{rp|19}}