Saitobaru Kofun Cluster, Ancient burial ground cluster in Saito, Japan
Saitobaru Kofun Cluster is a widespread collection of burial mounds in Saito that covers forested hills and open grass areas. The mounds rise from the landscape in different sizes, with some showing the distinctive keyhole shape while others are laid out in circular patterns.
Regional rulers began building these burial sites in the late third century and continued construction over four centuries. The larger mounds marked the resting places of powerful leaders, while smaller structures served family members and followers.
The name comes from Japanese and means literally 'great mound field', reflecting how local communities have always recognized this landscape as sacred ground. Families from nearby towns still visit during spring festivals to honor their ancestors and maintain a living connection with this ancient past.
Visitors can walk on paths between the mounds, with information boards along the route offering explanations in Japanese. The nearby museum provides context for the finds and displays reconstructed burial chambers that help understand the original structure.
Some burial mounds here hold underground corridors with stone chambers, a building technique found mainly in Kyushu. Archaeologists discovered objects from distant regions, pointing to trade routes that stretched across early Japan and beyond.
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