The specifics of Japanese terms referring to the Jomon period, based on publications by Yamanouchi Sugao and Kobayashi Tatsuo

This article discusses difficulties in the use of Japanese archaeological terminology, especially with regard to the Jomon period. The history of the notions of "style”, "type”, and "form” is outlined, which are the most adequate concepts for the interpretation, classification, and description of new styles of the Jomon pottery. The evolution of the terms is traced using the works by Yamanouchi Sugao and Kobayashi Tatsuo. Their basic views on the typology of Jomon artifacts and the notions behind the key terms are described.