Melange in the Machikata area, Nyukawa Village, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan is composed of clasts and blocks of sandstone, siliceous mudstone, chert, and mafic volcanic rocks enclosed in a matrix of mudstone. Radiolarians from the matrix are of Early Jurassic age. The melange has generally been regarded as a part of the Middle Jurassic accretionary complex of the Mino Belt. However the new finding of Early Jurassic radiolarians from the melange matrix in the Machikata area suggests that this melange is older than the melange of the surrounding accretionary complex. In addition, there are also distinct differences in lithology between the melange in the Machikata area and that of the surrounding accretionary complex.