本論文は近世の肥前窯業の生産機構について、主に考古資料の分析をもとに明らかにすることを目的としたものである。まず肥前地方の古窯跡出土資料からそれぞれの窯業の地域性を抽出し、それらを比較することによって、地域の相互関係を明らかにしていった。次に窯業圏の外部との影響関係について、質の高い消費遺跡や沈船遺跡などの出土資料、他産地の製品などと比較することによって、明らかにした。そして、窯業圏の内部構成と空間的広がりの変遷から窯業圏の形成過程を明らかにした。その結果、肥前窯業の生産機構の特質について、磁器原料あるいはその供給体制が窯業圏の基盤となっていたこと、産業の発展過程の中で形成された分業体制が産地を支えてきたこと、流通機構が生産機構に深い関わりをもっていたこと、そして、近世に形成された生産機構が近代以降の地場産業に大きな影響を与えていることが明らかとなった。

　The purpose of this work is to clarify the mechanism of the production of the early modern Hizen porcelain. And I adopted the method of analyzing the archeological material from mainly old kiln sites in Hizen. The history of ceramic industry in Hizen began at the end of the 16^th century. The ceramic industrial area as a center was formed at the west Arita near the territorial borders of the Saga clan, Omura clan and Hirado clan until the early 17^th century. Artisans who lived at this area had the common technical skill and information over the territorial borders of the clans. In the 1630's each feudal clan formed a ceramic industrial area, where was provided by the locally produced-ceramic material (kaolin). As a result, the industrial area near the borders disappeared. In the middle of the 17th century Hizen porcelain began to be exported abroad instead of Chinese porcelain. The demand of Hizen porcelain rapidly increased. A large number of new kilns sprung up in Hizen, and the industrial area expanded. On the other hand, each regional area was differentiated in various demands. At the end of the 17^th century Chinese porcelain began to be exported abroad again. Hizen porcelain had to seek a new market in the domestic market. The industry of Hizen porcelain therefore chose the method of mass and uniform production to respond the demands, and the network for the circulation helped to establish a new local market. Many porcelain kilns have sprung up all over the country since the end of the 18^th century. The monopoly of Hizen porcelain in the domestic market ended. Under the circumstances Shida area in Hizen grew up as a porcelain-producing center. There are two reasons for the growth; one is that the Amakusa kaolin was widely accepted. Shida is located in the Shiota river basin; therefore, transportation by river directly linked Shida area to Amakusa area. Another is the cooperation of the Imari merchants. The Imari merchants had a network for the circulation to sell the products all over the country.