Isohama Kofun Cluster, Ancient burial mounds complex in Oarai, Japan
The Isohama Kofun Cluster consists of seven burial monuments with different shapes situated along the Oarai coast, including two keyhole-shaped structures and two round mounds. The site spreads across the landscape and shows the range of burial practices from ancient times.
This burial site dates to the 3rd century and shows how ancient Japanese communities honored their dead. Archaeological work starting in the 1940s uncovered many objects that helped experts understand this period better.
The burial mounds reflect social divisions in ancient Japan, with varying sizes and shapes showing the ranks of different people in the community. You can observe how these differences appear clearly across the landscape when you walk through.
The site is accessible to visitors and has informative signs that explain the archaeological discoveries. It helps to wear comfortable shoes and allow enough time to explore the different mounds across the grounds.
At this coastal location, items like bronze mirrors and jade jewelry were found that suggest trade links to distant regions. Such precious goods show that people buried here were connected across large distances.
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