Akitsuneyama Kofun Cluster, Ancient burial mounds in Nomi City, Japan.
Akitsuneyama Kofun Cluster is a group of ancient burial mounds in Nomi with varying shapes, including a keyhole-formed mound measuring about 141 meters long. The site contains multiple burial chambers with different architectural features that were studied through excavation and modern surveying methods.
These burial mounds were built in the 4th century and belonged to high-ranking individuals of the era. They held valuable goods like bronze weapons and decorated mirrors, which marked the importance of those interred within.
The burial structures reveal social ranking through their varied sizes and shapes arranged across the land. You can observe how the layout reflects the status of those buried within by noticing which mounds stand more prominently.
The site is best reached by public transport since Nomi has good railway connections. Information boards are present at the location, and sturdy shoes are recommended as the terrain is natural and uneven.
Ground-penetrating radar technology revealed a burial chamber in Kofun No. 1 containing a wooden sarcophagus longer than 8 meters. This discovery was possible because the mound was hidden beneath dense vegetation for centuries, which helped protect the contents.
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