Minezuka Kofun, Circular burial mound in Tenri, Japan.
Minezuka Kofun is a circular burial mound in Tenri that belongs to the Somanouchi Kofun Cluster and dates from the late Kofun period. The site displays burial practices of this era with its distinctive features and is now part of an archaeological complex that visitors can explore.
The mound was built around 700 AD, when Japanese society was in the late phase of its ancient burial traditions. This was a transitional period when older practices were gradually giving way to new burial methods.
The mound reflects how ancient communities honored their deceased and organized themselves socially through burial customs. Visitors can observe how the shape and size of such structures communicated the status of the person interred within.
The site is accessible in a quiet archaeological zone in Tenri where you can view it from the surrounding area to see its shape and structure. It helps to learn about the Kofun period beforehand to better understand the significance of these burial mounds.
Excavations here uncovered objects showing how the mound's size corresponded with the wealth and power of the buried person. These artifacts help archaeologists today understand the precise social order of this era.
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