Hokenoyama Kofun is a scallop shaped Kofun containing several burial chambers at the site of the Makimuku ruins in Nara Prefecture, Japan.[1][2]: 249 It is dated to around 250 AD.[2]: 253
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| Location | Sakurai, Nara, Japan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°32′24″N 135°50′42″E / 34.54000°N 135.84500°E |
The tomb is located to the east of the Hashihaka Kofun.[2]: 250–251 A road cuts through its southeast extension as can be seen in the image to the right.[2]: 250–251 It is decorated with Fukiishi stones from the Makimuku river.[2]: 250–251
It has a distinctive scallop-shaped design, the burial mound measures approximately 80 meters in length. Over time, certain details of its angular contours have become less distinct due to natural wear and erosion.[1]
Internally, the Kofun houses several burial pits and chambers. One of its noteworthy features is a reconstructed cist that contains a wooden coffin.
This site has garnered attention from scholars who posit that the Hokenoyama Kofun might be among the earliest examples of the Kofun tumulus, suggesting its origin may coincide with the early Kofun period.[1]
The 1995 excavation found a wooden coffin and a stone paved floor.t.[2]: 250–251 Grave goods from the local area but also the Tōkai region and Seto Inland Sea. A mirror from it is kept in Ōmiwa Shrine.[2]: 250–251
Access to the site, though straightforward, requires navigation through a notably narrow road. However, the nearby parking facility accommodates visitors.[1]
The area surrounding the tomb is also of archaeological significance, containing other sites such as the Hashihaka Kofun and the Makimuku Ishizuka Kofun.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Hokenoyama Kofun [ホケノ山古墳] Long Barrow : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map". 2023-11-08. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kidder, J. Edward (2017-12-18). Himiko and Japan's Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai. University of Hawaii Press. doi:10.1515/9780824862848. ISBN 978-0-8248-6284-8.