Yamagata Prefectural Museum to host Paleolithic exhibition in 2026

The Yamagata Prefectural Museum has announced its 2026 Prime Special Exhibition, titled ‘Hunters of the Far East: The Ice Age Pioneers Pursued by Yoshito Abe,’ scheduled to run from October 3 to December 20, 2026.

The exhibition focuses on the Paleolithic period, exploring how early humans adapted to the cold environments of the Japanese archipelago approximately 40,000 years ago. Yamagata Prefecture holds the highest number of Paleolithic sites in the Tohoku region, with 108 identified locations.

A central figure of the exhibition is the late archaeologist Yoshito Abe, a Yamagata native and former professor at Keio University. The display will feature research materials from sites he investigated, such as the Onakamoribayashi and Ueno A sites in Nishikawa Town, as well as findings from the Shitsukari Abe Cave in Aomori Prefecture.

Visitors will see various artifacts, including animal bones, plant remains, and stone tools. The museum will also debut newly acquired materials, such as deer excrement and plant specimens dating back roughly 20,000 years, to reconstruct the natural landscape of ancient Yamagata. The exhibition aims to provide a multi-sensory experience through visual, auditory, and tactile displays.