An international research team led by Lund University has released findings that challenge conventional understanding of how the Kikai-Akahoya volcanic eruption affected ancient Japanese populations. The eruption, which occurred approximately 7,300 years ago beneath the seabed, struck while Jomon communities dependent on hunting and gathering inhabited the Japanese islands. The disaster brought powerful earthquakes, enormous tsunamis, and meters of volcanic ash across the landscape.
For decades, archaeologists debated the eruption’s human toll, with some arguing it caused near-complete population collapse in affected areas while others suggested certain communities survived relatively close to the disaster zone. The new research indicates neither explanation fully captures what occurred. Instead, the team identified a complex pattern of responses across different regions. In southern Kyushu, populations that had already been declining before the eruption remained sparse afterward, with the region primarily occupied by highly mobile forager groups. Northern Kyushu presented a contrasting picture, with its population continuing to increase despite the eruption and resulting ecosystem damage. Researchers suggest that migrants fleeing the most severely affected areas may have contributed to this growth.
Survivors in coastal areas appear to have relocated from inland regions to take advantage of marine ecosystems, which recovered relatively quickly and provided abundant food resources. This adaptation may have enabled further population growth among these relocated communities. The research also revealed unexpected demographic changes in regions far from the volcano. Areas that had experienced population growth before the eruption subsequently saw that growth stall or reverse, a finding that had not been previously recognized.
The researchers propose several explanations for these distant effects, including temporary climate disruptions caused by the eruption, severe tooth wear in deer and wild boar populations from grazing on ash-covered landscapes, and other volcanic impacts on human health. According to the research team, the findings demonstrate that natural disasters produce varied and complex consequences that extend well beyond zones of immediate destruction, with human communities responding differently depending on their specific circumstances and available options.
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