A Geometric Morphometric Dataset of Edo-Period 'Ogame' Jar Profiles from Northern Kyushu, Japan

This dataset contains 243 silhouette images of Edo-period Ogame (“large jar”) vessels from Hizen and Chikuzen Provinces (modern-day Saga and Fukuoka prefectures), Japan. These thick-walled stoneware jars served diverse functions, from storing soy sauce and fertilizer to containing human remains in burials. The silhouettes were extracted from archaeological site reports and prepared for outline-based Geometric Morphometric (GMM) analysis, a method that quantifies shape independently of size or landmarks. By enabling replicable shape analysis of large, curvilinear ceramic forms, this dataset supports research into morphological standardization, workshop practice, and the intersection of political economy and material culture in early modern Japan.