Keyhole mound (~40m) in Fukuchiyama City — Kyoto Prefectural Historic Site. Late 6th century; complete horse fittings, silver ear rings, and glass comma-beads designated as Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Properties. Fills the central Tamba geographic gap between the Tango Peninsula mound groups (lat 35.5+) and Kameoka (lat 35.06).
Finds & research
Complete horse fittings (bit, stirrups, mirror plate, apron ornaments, ring fittings; Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Properties), iron weapons, silver ear rings, glass comma-beads, Sue ware.
Two views on the occupant
Archaeological view
Keyhole mound ~40m long in Higashihao, Fukuchiyama City. Late 6th century. The main mound of the Hiromune group (~15 mounds), situated on the ridge above the left bank of the Miyagawa, a tributary of the Yura River. The horizontal stone chamber yielded a complete set of horse fittings (bit, stirrups, mirror plate, apron ornaments, ring fittings), iron weapons, silver ear rings, glass comma-shaped beads, and Sue ware, designated as Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Properties. The horse fittings are the finest assemblage from any Tamba kofun, attesting to an occupant who was a powerful regional chieftain directly connected to the great aristocrats of the Kinai region. Geographically, it bridges the Tango Peninsula mound groups (Amino-Choshiyama lat:35.64, Ebisuyama lat:35.51) and Kameoka (Chitose Kurumazuka lat:35.06) at lat:35.37, filling the central Tamba gap.
Imperial Household Agency view
Not designated by the IHA. Kyoto Prefectural Historic Site (finds designated as Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Property in 2013). Managed by Fukuchiyama City.
Field notes
About 20 min by car from JR San-in Main Line Fukuchiyama Station. Fukuchiyama City's local history museum has related materials for those interested in the Yura River basin's ancient history. A good midway stop on a "Tango–Tamba kofun drive" combining Ebisuyama (id:297) and Amino-Choshiyama (id:279) on the Tango Peninsula.