Shimofunazuka Kofun
下船塚古墳 | |
 Kamifunazuka Kofun to the left; Shimofunazuka Kofun to the right | |
  Shimofunazuka Kofun  Shimofunazuka Kofun (Japan) | |
| Location | Wakasa, Fukui, Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Hokuriku region |
| Coordinates | 35°28′16.10″N 135°48′51.5″E / 35.4711389°N 135.814306°E |
| Type | kofun |
| History | |
| Founded | 6th century AD |
| Periods | Kofun |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | National Historic Site |
| Public access | Yes |
Shimofunazuka Kofun (下船塚古墳, Shimofunazuka Kofun) is a keyhole-shaped kofun burial mound located in what is now part of the town of Wakasa, Fukui in the Hokuriku region of Japan. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1935.[1]
Overview
The Shimofunazuka Kofun is one of a group of kofun located in the Hirano area of central Wakasa, sandwiched between Japan National Route 27 and the tracks of the JR West Obama Line railway. This tumulus is oriented almost in an east and west direction with the circular portion facing east, almost the same as the neighbouring Kamifunazuka Kofun. The total length is 85 meters, with the circular portion having a diameter of 47 meters. The 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 kofun is also surrounded by a dry moat.
This tumulus was constructed in the mid-Kofun period and this pre-dates the Kamifunazuka Kofun. It may have been the grave a local king before Yamato dynasty control over the area of Wakasa was firmly established; however, this tumulus has yet to be excavated by archaeologists.
See also
References
- ^ "下船塚古墳" [Shimofunazuka kofun] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
External links
- Obama city home page (in Japanese)
- Fukui Prefectural home page (in Japanese)