| During the Jomon period (10,000 BCE - 300 BCE) | | | | harvests. |
| some very intriguing pottery was created. The Jomon | | | | It is also possible the dogu were nothing more than |
| people used open pits to fire their pottery, which | | | | children's play dolls. However, the time and effort that |
| included mostly large vessels and clay figurines called | | | | went into making these figurines makes this theory |
| dogu. Many well-known contemporary potters have | | | | unlikely. Still others believe that dogu are modeled after |
| been inspired by the features of Jomon pottery. | | | | alien visitors from outer space. Looking at some of |
| Although the large Jomon vessels are interesting with | | | | these odd looking figurines, some of which look like |
| their ornate decorations, the most fascinating works | | | | they are wearing spacesuits, it is easy to understand |
| from the Jomon are the dogu figurines. | | | | why one might believe this theory. |
| There are many theories which try to explain why the | | | | It is interesting to note that during the same time period |
| Jomon people created dogu. Often dogu have been | | | | similar figurines were being made by cultures on the |
| excavated in fragments which has led some | | | | other side of the globe. The Valdivia people of |
| archaeologists to theorize that they were used for | | | | Ecuador are one culture that also made clay figurines |
| good luck charms or talisman. Once a wish was made | | | | resembling those of the Jomon. It is difficult to explain |
| upon the dogu figurine it was then smashed on the | | | | this resemblance but it is possible the inspiration for |
| ground and thrown on the trash heap. Dogu may also | | | | these figurines came from the collective |
| have been representations of gods or goddesses to | | | | consciousness of the period or maybe the space |
| whom the Jomon prayed for good health or bountiful | | | | aliens visited the Jomon and the Valdivia! |