Facility Outline:
Experience the culture of the ancient Moyoro people of Hokkaido

The Moyoro Shell Mound is located at the mouth of the Abashiri River, which flows into the Sea of Okhotsk. Some 1,300 years ago, people from the northern continent developed a unique way of living known as Okhotsk culture in Abashiri. The unearthed artifacts showcased at this museum highlight ways of life from those days, unique spiritual beliefs and skillful sea mammal hunting techniques.

Exhibits are displayed by theme, and include dwellings, graves and shell mounds. The Gravesite Exhibition Room displays an unearthed grave, while outdoor ruins include former dwelling sites and other graves. Visitors follow a pathway through the premises to experience the atmosphere of a settlement from some 1,300 years ago.

Permanent Exhibition:
The unique fine patterns of Okhotsk pottery

Pottery is a typical artifact unearthed from Okhotsk culture sites. The forms of these pieces, which include pots and vases, and designs such as incised lines and the waveform patterns of thin clay string decoration, are unique to this culture. Appliqué decorations and designs representing waterfowl, along with artifacts depicting other animals, highlight the spirituality of the era’s Moyoro people.