Sekijinsan Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Hirokawa, Japan
The Sekijinsan Kofun is a roughly 107-meter-long mound with a characteristic keyhole shape, consisting of a circular section and a rectangular portion. Inside lies a stone chamber with flat masonry construction that houses a house-shaped sarcophagus.
This mound was built between the 4th and 7th centuries during the Kofun period and belongs to a network of about 300 burial mounds in the Yame region. The area was an important power center in northern Kyushu at that time.
The name refers to the stone burial chamber discovered inside, which showed evidence of elaborate funeral rituals when excavated. Visitors can explore the mound's structure today and understand how important such tombs were to ancient society.
The mound sits in an agricultural area, so visiting in dry weather works best. Sturdy shoes are a good idea to explore the structure and walk around the surrounding landscape.
Archaeological finds revealed red-painted artifacts in the chamber, pointing to elaborate burial practices. These decorated objects offer insight into the artistic skills and religious beliefs of the people who created these tombs.
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