Iwanoyama Kofun Cluster, Ancient burial mounds in Gojome, Japan
Iwanoyama Kofun Cluster comprises 18 burial mounds situated on a plateau near Lake Hachirōgata in a northern region of Japan. The mounds are regularly maintained and clearly visible as you walk through the grounds.
These burial mounds were built during the Nara and Heian periods and were excavated between 1961 and 1963. The findings revealed that the region was already under central state authority in the early 9th century.
These mounds reflect the reach of imperial administration into northern Japan and show how government officials maintained control over distant territories. Walking through the site, you can sense the connection between this remote location and the center of state power.
The site is accessible as a prefectural historic area and is maintained by local authorities. Clear weather makes it easier to appreciate the structure and layout of the mounds.
One of the tombs contained weapons and ornaments suggesting it held a high-ranking government official. This discovery is striking because it reveals that officials of such importance were buried even in this remote location.
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