A report by archaeologist Ikeda Yoshifumi in 2003 lists about 350 archaeological sites with
kamuiyaki. They stretch from the
Satsuma Peninsula of southern
Kyūshū to
Yonaguni Island of the Yaeyama Islands. In southern Kyūshū,
kamuiyaki were excavated from sites near the month of the
Manose River,
Minamisatsuma,
Kagoshima Prefecture. The
Mottaimatsu Site, which was at its peak from the middle 12th century to the first half of the 13th century, had a huge variety of goods including
kamuiyaki, a large number of Chinese ceramics such as Longquan celadon and Tong'an celadon, and in smaller quantity, sue wares from eastern
Harima Province and
Tokoname-yaki from
Owari Province.
Kamuiyaki were also found at the neighboring
Wataribata and
Shibahara Sites, and at the
Kozono Site in the interior. Archaeologist Miyashita Takahiro argued that the Manose River basin had served as a trade center connected to
Hakata–
Dazaifu of northern Kyūshū. The presence of
kamuiyaki suggests that this region was involved in the trade with the Southern Islands although excavated wares were slightly newer (around the 13th century) than archaeologists expected them to be. In the Amami Islands, in which the kiln sites are located, the emergence of
kamuiyaki led to the disappearance of native
Kaneku-type earthenwares in the first half of the 11th century. Only a small number of earthenwares continued to be produced and they imitated soapstone cauldrons. The common vessel forms of
kamuiyaki include urns (
kame), small mouthed, short necked jars (
tsubo), wide mouth jars (
hachi), grating bowls (
suribachi) and bowls (
wan). What distinguishes the Amami Islands from other island groups was the presence of the
Gusuku Site Complex in
Kikai Island. This archaeological site complex lasted for a long time from the 9th century. In its second peak, from the latter half of the 11th century to the first half of the 12th century, an exceptionally large quantities of sue wares,
haji wares,
kamuiyaki, and soapstone cauldrons produced in the
Nishisonogi Peninsula,
Nagasaki Prefecture were used together with Chinese white glazed wares, Chinese celadons, Goryeo ceramics and Goryeo unglazed stonewares.
Kamuiyaki found in the Okinawa Islands are characterized by their association with white glazed wares, soapstone cauldrons and locally produced earthenwares. These earthenwares, collectively called
gusuku wares, were urns, small mouthed jars, wide mouth jars, bowls and dishes. They were considered to be imitations of exotic goods including Amami's
kamuiyaki. According to archaeologist Takanashi Osamu, insufficient supply of exotic goods accounts for the production of gusuku wares. Okinawan archaeologists generally argue that gusuku wares replaced earlier flat bottomed pottery. The southern island groups of Miyako and Yaeyama are known for their peculiar archaeological development: a pottery culture was followed by a potteryless culture and then by another pottery culture.
Kamuiyaki, together with white glazed wares, soapstone cauldrons and brown glazed wares, were found at the
Ōdomaribama Site (circa 12th century) of
Hateruma, the Yaeyama Islands, which Okinawan archaeologists consider represents the final stage of the potteryless culture. With the introduction of the combination of
kamuiyaki, soapstone cauldrons and white glazed wares, Miyako and Yaeyama departed from a distinct potteryless culture and entered a pottery culture, which is sometimes known as the
Suku Culture. It means that these southern island groups were finally integrated into a large culture (in an archaeological sense) of northern origin. == Technological background ==