Jomon

American

[jaw-mawn] / ˈdʒɔ mɔn /

adjective

of or relating to the period of Japanese culture, c8000–300 b.c., corresponding to Mesolithic or early Neolithic, characterized by sunken-pit dwellings and heavy handmade pottery formed with a rope pattern of clay coils.

Etymology

Origin of Jomon

From the Japanese word jōmon rope-pattern

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jomon ancestry appeared strongest in Okinawa, where it was found in 28.5% of samples, while western Japan showed much lower levels at 13.4%.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

In Japan, people in Jomon cultures ate lots of chestnuts that they cultivated in addition to what they hunted, gathered, and fished.

From Salon • Jan. 24, 2023

For example, a woman’s remains found in Yokchido in South Korea had 95% ancestry from Japan’s ancient Jomon people, indicating her recent ancestors had migrated over the sea.

From Reuters • Nov. 10, 2021

Jomon Dotson was slowed by injuries last year but is a versatile backup, and the highly touted Sean McGrew looks like he could be a factor even with limited touches.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2016

Yayoi farmers continued to use some Jomon types of chipped-stone tools, which had already been completely replaced by metal tools in Korea and China.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023