Abstract
This paper begins with a review of recent studies in the archeology of the Ryukyu Islands. For this purpose, we identify two prehistoric cultures: the northern Ryukyu Islands (Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands) and the southern Ryukyu Islands (Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands). Next, based on archeological commonalities between the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan, I will focus on multitude of regional interactions between the areas, including the short-range relations, that are in fact a characteristic feature of this region of East Asia in the period between 2000-1000 BCE. The use of the marine resources such as shells and fishing tools are also treated in a discussion of the similarities and connections between Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. These common issues are used to discuss exchange relations between Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands and to understand the points of contact between the archeology of the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan.