Sannai-Maruyama Longhouse
Name of Building
Sannai-Maruyama Longhouse
Town or City, Country where the building was originally established
Aomori, Japan
Date the building was designed and/or first built
Middle Jomon (3900-2200 BC) - Longhouse initially constructed
1992 - Existence of large Jomon community discovered
1994 - Conservation efforts and reconstruction begins
1995 - Archeological park opens with model of Jomon village
Name of Architect, Builder, or Primary Patron Responsible
Patron - Aomori Prefecture Government (Acting Governor Masaya Kitamura)
Culturally Specific Time Period
Jomon Period (14,000 and 300 BCE)
Geo-Location
40.810648177449984, 140.69669281125968
Materials
Wood, thatch
Size and/or Scale of Building
Floor Area - 32 meters x 9.8 meters
Architectural Type
Public
Formal Style
Jōmon Pit Dwelling
Building Description
The largest of its kind, the building is a longhouse measured to be 32 meters in length and 9.8 meters in width, with a floor area of approximately 250 square meters. It takes an oval shape on a pitted floor. Its internal structure or skeleton consists of wood pillars, likely made from chestnut, a feature that can be found in surrounding buildings within the community. By modern standards, the longhouse's aesthetics could be described as primitive. The exterior is naturalistic, showcasing the raw materials used in its construction. Specifically, supported by the pillars is a thatched roof. As the building is slightly underground, there are stair entrances on each length of the structure; for modern accessibility, a ramped entrance is also provided. The entrances are defined by their doors, propped open from bottom to top, made of a similar material to the exterior. The building is a modern model of prehistoric, Jomon-era architecture and culture.
Since the building’s recreation and opening in 1995, it has been primarily used for public education, with the site's connections to the Jomon Jiyukan (a nearby museum). In its time period, however, the original building was likely a communal space. As Jomon society became increasingly sedentary, communities such as those surrounding the structure developed. Its large size allowed these communities to gather.
Since the building’s recreation and opening in 1995, it has been primarily used for public education, with the site's connections to the Jomon Jiyukan (a nearby museum). In its time period, however, the original building was likely a communal space. As Jomon society became increasingly sedentary, communities such as those surrounding the structure developed. Its large size allowed these communities to gather.
Image source
Image 1 - 140913_Sannai-Maruyama_site_Aomori_Japan02bs5
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/140913_Sannai-Maruyama_site_Aomori_Japan02bs5.jpg)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/140913_Sannai-Maruyama_site_Aomori_Japan02bs5.jpg)
Image 2 - 140913 Sannai-Maruyama site Aomori Japan03s.jpg
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/140913_Sannai-Maruyama_site_Aomori_Japan03s.jpg)
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/140913_Sannai-Maruyama_site_Aomori_Japan03s.jpg)
Image 3 - Sannai IMG 20161009 135532.jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Sannai_IMG_20161009_135532.jpg)
Creative Commons or other copyright information
Image 1 - Creative Commons
Image 2 - Creative Commons
Image 3 - Creative Commons
Student First and Last Name
Moanna Dixson
Bibliographic references for the item
“Sannai Maruyama Site: Remains and Reconstructed Models of Large Pit‑Dwellings.” Sannai Maruyama: World Heritage Jōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan. Aomori Prefecture. https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/about/remains-dwellings/
UNESCO. “Jōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1632/.
“Sannai Maruyama Site — Information.” Sannai Maruyama: World Heritage Jōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan. Aomori Prefecture. https://sannaimaruyama.pref.aomori.jp/english/information/
“Japan: Heads of State / Heads of Government and Major Officials.” Rulers.org. http://rulers.org/jappref.html
Collection
Citation
Patron - Aomori Prefecture Government (Acting Governor Masaya Kitamura), “Sannai-Maruyama Longhouse,” World Architecture, accessed June 28, 2026, https://worldarchitecture.artinterp2.org/items/show/31.
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