Divergent demographic responses to the Kikai-Akahoya volcanic catastrophe in mid-Holocene Japan.

The Kikai-Akahoya eruption 7300 years ago is linked to diverse demographic responses in Japanese Jomon communities, with some populations collapsing and others increasing.

• Why it matters: Understanding how ancient societies responded to environmental shocks fills a critical gap in knowledge about long-term demographic trajectories and resilience.
• What they did: The study used statistical models to analyze the impacts of the eruption on Jomon foraging communities across the Japanese archipelago, considering both immediate and overlooked environmental effects.
• The result: Findings reveal that while populations near the volcano experienced collapse, some proximal groups grew, and distal communities were also affected, highlighting complex, contingent responses to catastrophic events.