Shimofunazuka Kofun

The Shimofunazuka Kofun (下船塚古墳) is a kofun burial mound located in the Hikasa neighborhood of the town of Wakasa, Fukui in the Hokuriku region of Japan. It was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1935.[1] It is also called the "Meotozuka" as it is paired with the Kamifunazuka Kofun, which has a separate National Historic Site designation.

Shimofunazuka Kofun
下船塚古墳
Kamifunazuka Kofun to the left; Shimofunazuka Kofun to the right
Shimofunazuka Kofun
Shimofunazuka Kofun (Japan)
LocationWakasa, Fukui, Japan
RegionHokuriku region
Coordinates35°28′16.10″N 135°48′51.5″E
Typekofun
History
Founded6th century AD
PeriodsKofun period
Site notes
Public accessYes (no facilities)

Overview

The Shimofunazuka Kofun is one of the Hikasa Kofun Cluster, which is in turn part of the larger Kaminaka Kofun Cluster of ancient tumuli. It sandwiched between Japan National Route 27 and the tracks of the JR West Obama Line railway on the left bank of the Kitagawa River. [2]

This tumulus is two-step keyhole-shaped kofun zenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳), which is shaped like a keyhole, having one square end and one circular end, when viewed from above. It is oriented almost in an east-to-west direction with the posterior circular portion facing east. It is separated by the Kamifunazuka Kofun by the path of the ancient Wakasa Kaidō, an ancient highway which connected the region with Yamato. The total length of the tumulus is 85 meters, with the circular portion having a diameter of 47 meters. The posterior rectangular portion of the structure widens out towards the west, where it has a width of 47 meters. The height of the tumulus is 10 meters. The entire structure differs from that of the nearby Kamifunazuka Kofun in that fukiishi have not been found, although fragments of haniwa have been found in the area. The tumulus is also surrounded by a dry shield-shaped moat. A preliminary excavation was conducted in 1990. The tumulus appears to have been robbed in antiquity, and the structure of the burial chamber is not clear.[2]

This tumulus was constructed in the middle of the 6th century. It may have been the grave a local king before Yamato dynasty control over the area of Wakasa was firmly established. It is located about a 13-minute walk from Shin-Hirano Station on the JR West Obama Line.[2]

  • tumulus（rectangular portion to right, circular portion to left)
  • Circular portion
  • Circular portion
  • Rectangular portion
  • Rectangular portion

See also

References
  1. "下船塚古墳" [Shimofunazuka kofun] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
  2. Isomura, Yukio; Sakai, Hideya (2012). (国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia. 学生社. ISBN 4311750404.(in Japanese)
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