Ofujiyama-kofun, Ancient burial mound in Isesaki, Japan
Ofujiyama-kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound in Gunma Prefecture composed of a circular section attached to a rectangular platform. The structure demonstrates the architectural design characteristic of these ancient tomb types.
The burial mound was built during the Kofun period between 250 and 538 AD when such monumental tombs were a major burial practice in Japan. This era represented a distinct approach to honoring the dead before Buddhist traditions arrived.
The tomb reflects how ancient Japanese communities honored their leaders through monumental burial sites visible in the landscape. The form itself served as a physical expression of the person's status in life.
The site is easily accessible for viewing and exploration of its outer form and structure. Visitors can examine the mound in connection with other similar burial sites located in the region.
The mound has retained its distinctive keyhole shape intact over the centuries and provides insight into ancient burial architecture. This particular form appears nowhere else in world burial traditions.
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