Nara Pref. Keyhole-shaped mound

Hokeno-yama Kofun

LocationNara Pref.
ShapeKeyhole-shaped mound
Mound length80 m
PeriodLate 3rd c.

Overview

80m mound in Sakurai City. A nationally designated historic site that shows the transition between Yayoi and Kofun cultures.National historic site showing the Yayoi-Kofun transition.

Finds & research

Multiple excavations by Sakurai City Board of Education and the Kashihara Archaeological Research Institute (national historic site designated 1972). Burial facility: the uniquely hybrid "mokkaku vertical-shaft stone chamber" (~6.5m long) combining a wooden outer coffin (Yayoi tradition) with a vertical-shaft stone chamber (Kofun feature). Key finds: bronze mirrors (three inner-flower-pattern mirrors, one triangular-rimmed deity-beast mirror, etc.); iron swords; ~60 iron arrowheads; ~60 bronze arrowheads; stone artifacts (stone arrowheads, small knives); Furuichi-style pottery; stone paving; and traces of wooden shield-shaped structures. The mixture of Yayoi and Kofun-type grave goods is the most archaeologically significant aspect. Some finds displayed at the Sakurai City Buried Cultural Property Center.

Two views on the occupant

Archaeological view
Contains a vertical-shaft stone chamber with a wooden coffin, bronze mirrors, and swords. Important transitional tomb combining Yayoi and Kofun elements.
Imperial Household Agency view
Not managed by IHA.
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Sources

Wikipedia桜井市教育委員会文化庁 国指定文化財等データベース

Related kofun

Hashihaka Kofun (280m) Nishitonozuka Kofun (230m) Higashitonozuka Kofun (139m) Andonzan Kofun (242m) Shibuyamukaiyama Kofun (300m) Kurozuka Kofun (130m)
← Makimuku Katsuyama Kofun Horaiyama Kofun →