A type of Japanese decorative technique characterized by rope-like relief. Jomon means "rope decoration."

Ancient Japanese culture dating from 13,000 years ago. The Jomon people were foragers, relying on hunting wild animals, gathering wild plants, and, especially, collecting food from the sea. The earliest pottery in the world has been found at Jomon sites dating to more than 11,000 years ago. The rich resource base exploited by the Jomon allowed for dense population and complex social patterns before their adoption of agriculture.