Ezuriko Kofun Cluster, Ancient burial mounds in Kitakami, Japan.
The Ezuriko Kofun Cluster is a collection of more than 120 dome-shaped burial mounds spread across a river terrace at the meeting point of two rivers. Each mound contains a stone chamber, and together they form one of the larger concentrations of such structures in this region.
These burial mounds were created between the late 7th and early 8th centuries, a period when such structures were being built across Japan. University excavations in the 1950s uncovered the remains and artifacts that helped establish their precise age.
The mounds reveal how people organized burials according to social rank, with larger structures likely belonging to leaders and influential families. The placement along the river suggests this location held significance as a burial ground for an extended community.
The site is accessible by public bus from the local station, with a short walk at the end to reach the burial mounds. It is best visited in clear weather, as the river terrace can become muddy and the ground uneven in places.
The stone chambers preserved inside the mounds contain curved beads and horse equipment that hint at long-distance trade connections. These objects suggest that the people buried here were wealthy and maintained ties with distant communities.
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