Niizawa-Senzuka Kofun Cluster, Ancient burial mound cluster in Kashihara, Japan.
The Niizawa-Senzuka site contains over 600 burial mounds scattered across Mount Kaifuki in Nara, built between the late 4th and 7th centuries. The mounds vary in size and reveal different burial methods and grave goods spanning several centuries.
These burial structures began appearing in the late 4th century and reached their peak during the 5th and 6th centuries. The cluster shows how burial practices and imported goods reflect Japan's growing connections with neighboring regions during this era.
This cluster reveals how people of the Kofun period honored their dead by placing valuable goods in the mounds. The burial practices show the social hierarchy and religious beliefs that shaped their communities.
The site spreads across a large hillside area with paths running between the mounds at different elevations. Wear sturdy shoes for walking on the uneven terrain, and plan your visit during cooler seasons when exploring the grounds is most comfortable.
Excavations uncovered grass products of Roman origin, showing trade flowed through the Korean kingdom of Silla rather than directly from China. These surprising finds reveal complex trade networks that stretched far beyond immediate neighbors.
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