ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the contemporary issues surrounding the archaeological heritage and the Ainu in Hokkaido. It also focuses on the original characteristics of the archaeological past in northern Japan, especially on Hokkaido Island. The chapter then demonstrates how archaeology can provide an effective and significant mechanism for recognizing the cultural diversity of the archaeological past and its role in the formation of the identity of contemporary Ainu people. The significance of historical and cultural heritages in host communities has been highlighted in recent years, and a variety of initiatives for their preservation and utilization involving host communities has been implemented. The expansion of political and economic activity in the European nations led to the development of colonies, and many "unknown" cultures and civilizations were discovered during the colonization processes. Indigenous archaeology's greatest effect on conventional archaeology stems from the diversity of its evaluation and interpretation of historical and cultural heritage.
