Jomon Culture (ca. 10,500–ca. 300 B.C.) Deep bowl with sculptural rim, late Middle Jomon period (ca. 2500–1500 b.c.), ca. 1500 b.c. Earthenware, Japan, The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Jomon period, which encompasses a great expanse of time, constitutes Japan's Neolithic period. Its name is derived from the "cord markings" that characterize the ceramics made during this time. Jomon people..