Human habitation in the
Japanese archipelago can be traced back to
prehistoric times. The
Jomon period, named after its "cord-marked" pottery, was followed by the
Yayoi in the first millennium BC, when new technologies were introduced from continental Asia. During this period, in the first century AD, the first known written reference to Japan was recorded in the Chinese
Book of Han. Between the third century and the eighth century, Japan's many kingdoms and tribes gradually came to be unified under a centralized government, nominally controlled by the
Emperor. The
imperial dynasty established at this time continues to reign over Japan to this day. In 794, a new imperial capital was established at
Heian-kyo (modern
Kyoto), marking the beginning of the
Heian period, which lasted until 1185. The Heian period is considered a golden age of classical
Japanese culture. Japanese religious life from this time and onwards was a mix of
Buddhism, which had been introduced via Korea, and native religious practices known as
Shinto.