Flame-shaped pottery is a style of pottery that flourished in what is now Niigata Prefecture during the middle of the Jomon period (3,400 BC to 2,400 BC). It has a three-dimensional pattern with no gaps and a well-balanced modeling beauty.It is estimated that the unique shapes and patterns were established in the middle Shinano River basin around 3,300 BC under the influence of pottery styles in the neighborhood, and continued and developed in the same area.

However, it disappeared by about 2,800 BC, and the style that was influenced by the neighboring southern Tohoku region and northern Nagano prefecture continued.The style of earthenware is also an expression of the strength of social and economic relationships between communities and the idea system. It is possible that there was a dramatic event that changed socio-economic and ideological system at the same time as the background that pottery with genealogy in other regions became dominant.

It is believed that flame-type pottery was generally used for rituals such as festivals, but so far no evidence of its use has been obtained. It is certain that it was used for boiling because the lizard may adhere to the inner surface.

People from Far East Asia including Japan started making pottery while moving during the late ice age (around 14,000-9,500 BC). Earthenware of the Japanese archipelago was used mainly for cooking fish that climb the river. The late glacial period just overlaps with the incipient Jomon period.

Even in Tokamachi City, since around 13,500 BC, they have been seasonally staying near the confluence of the Shinano River and Kiyotsu River to process fish, and many earthenware have been excavated as evidence of this. There are few such places to stay in the archipelago, and it is estimated that it was a valuable place with various suitable conditions (Motonoki and Tazawa Archaeological Sites).

In the post-glacial (9,500 BC-present) warm climate, forests developed, food resources became abundant, and people began to settle down.It is the beginning of the full-scale Jomon period (the early Jomon period). Since people were freed from the constraint of carrying household goods, they remade the tools that had been used for various purposes up to the optimum shape and increased the variety. In addition, the abundance of food has increased the population, complicated the society, and increased the exchanges between regions. The rituals using the well-known clay figurines and stone sticks were performed, and the tombs for the dead were built.

However, because there were large differences in climate and resource environment between regions of the archipelago, the timing of the start of settlement varied from region to region. Until the early Jomon period, Tokamachi City had places to stay but no settlement. The period when reliable permanent settlements were formed was during the early Jomon period (5,200 BC to 3,400 BC). The population increased the most during the Middle Period (3,400 BC to 2,400 BC), and many settlements were formed. It was also during this period that flame-shaped pottery was created.

Although their culture changed gradually, it continued for over 10,000 years until they started cultivating rice, which was introduced from the continent (1,000 BC to 250 BC). Although there is no evidence of rice cultivation in Tokamachi City, it is estimated that it began around 400 BC based on the relationship with the surrounding area.
During this time, they had little interaction with the continent, and formed a unique culture that was different from the continent that started farming and stock raising early on.