Kusahaka Kofun, Ancient burial mound in Sakurai, Japan
Kusahaka Kofun is a square-shaped burial mound in Sakurai measuring approximately 278 meters long and 30 meters high. A moat surrounding the structure varies between 7 and 20 meters in width and forms a distinct part of the site's layout.
This burial mound dates to the 4th century and underwent alterations in ancient times, particularly in its southern section. Excavations conducted in the 1950s and 1980s uncovered bamboo-shaped wooden sarcophagi that revealed details about burial customs of that era.
The site connects to Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso and reflects how early Yamato rulers expressed power through monumental burial structures. This mound served as a visible symbol of rank and spiritual importance in ancient society.
The site sits on a plateau roughly 10 meters above the Nitagawa River and is accessible to visitors as part of a public park setting. You can walk around the mound to experience its size and see how it relates to the surrounding landscape.
The mound displays varying widths in its surrounding moat, which may suggest different construction phases or planning changes. This variation offers insight into how ancient builders adapted and modified their design over time.
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