南大塚古墳群, Ancient burial mounds in Kawagoe, Japan.
The Minami-Otsuka Kofun is a cluster of several burial mounds scattered across the landscape in different shapes and sizes. The group includes round and keyhole-shaped structures, some containing stone chambers that once held the deceased.
These mounds were constructed between the 5th and 7th centuries and reflect the social structure of ancient Japan at that time. The different sizes and forms of each mound indicate the varying social status of those buried within.
The clay figurines and burial goods discovered here reveal how ancient communities honored their deceased and what they believed was needed in the afterlife. These objects show the religious practices and daily life of the people who built these mounds.
The site is accessible by designated walking paths that allow you to explore the various mounds at your own pace. Informational panels throughout the area help explain the layout and significance of each structure.
The haniwa clay figurines discovered here, shaped as humans or animals, offer a rare glimpse into the artistic skills and imagination of early Japanese people. These objects were placed in the mounds as burial offerings and display styles that survive nowhere else.
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