The mammal remains unearthed from the Pleistocene layers of the Shitsukari-Abe Cave mainly consist of hare teeth (Lepus sp.). It is evident that they originated from game hunted by Paleolithic humans because they were found concentrated around backed knives and some of the bones were burned. This is the first time clear evidence has been found showing active utilization of small mammal resources by Pleistocene humans in the Japanese Archipelago. Previous research has tended to emphasize large now-extinct land mammals such as Naumann’s elephant (Palaeoloxodon naumanni) and Yabe’s giant deer (Sinomegaceros yabei) as their game. Considering this, the research results of the Shitsukari-Abe Cave are of great significance. In addition to hare teeth, small amounts of teeth of Japanese giant flying squirrel (Petaurista leucogenys), medium-sized carnivores, serow (Capricornis sp.), brown bear (Ursus arctos), and moose (Alces alces) were excavated. These remains suggest that Paleolithic humans who utilized the Shitsukari-Abe Cave hunted a diverse range of animals.
1.Canine of a brown bear, 2.Lower right 1st molar of a brown bear, 3.Upper left 2nd and 3rd molars of a moose, 4.Upper right 2nd molar of a flying squirrel, 5.Lower left 3rd premolar of a hare, 6.Upper left canine of a medium-sized carnivore, 7.Lower left 1st incisor of a serow, 8.Lower right 3rd molar of a moose