The Yayoi period was originally divided to three periods; the early period, middle period, and the end period, but recently the Yayoi period is divided to four periods; the earlier period, early period, middle period, and end period, based on the above stated research.
弥生時代の時期区分は、従来、前期・中期・後期の3期に分けられていたが、近年では上記の研究動向をふまえ、早期・前期・中期・後期の4期区分論が主流になりつつある。