Daigigakoi Shell Mound and Shichigahama Historical Museum
Shichigahama is an important area for archaeological excavation, as the peninsula was the site of a thriving village during the Jomon period (10,000–300 BCE). The elevated location and proximity to both the protected bay and open sea made this an ideal place for people to settle.
The massive Daigigakoi Shell Mound, located a short walk from the Shichigahama Historical Museum, has led to important discoveries for archaeologists. Based on the shells, bones, tools, and pottery shards found here, they have been able to create an accurate picture of life during the Jomon period. At the museum, visitors can see the progress of technology (and creativity) through the displayed artifacts, which include many examples of pottery with the swirling uzumaki patterns characteristic of the region. Also on view are more recent objects, such as equipment used to make nori (seaweed sheets), as well as a recreation of the interior of a traditional house.
The shell mound has been a protected National Historic Site since 1968. It is now surrounded by a large, 19-hectare park, which offers pleasant walking paths, views over Matsushima Bay, and some 200 cherry trees, including many heritage varieties, which bloom during the spring.