Tōmizuka Kofun

Tomizuka Kofun
遠見塚古墳
Location in Japan
Tomizuka Kofun
Location in Japan
Tōmizuka Kofun (Japan)
Location Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Japan
Region Tōhoku region
Coordinates 38°14′18″N 140°54′52″E / 38.238197°N 140.914447°E / 38.238197; 140.914447Coordinates: 38°14′18″N 140°54′52″E / 38.238197°N 140.914447°E / 38.238197; 140.914447
Type kofun
History
Founded late 4th or early 5th century ADD
Site notes
Excavation dates 1968, 1972
Ownership National Historic Site
Public access Yes

The Tōmizuka Kofun (遠見塚古墳) is a keyhole-shaped kofun burial mound located in the Wakabayashi ward of the city of Sendai, Miyagi in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. It is the second largest kofun in Miyagi Prefecture (after the Raijinyama Kofun in nearby Natori) and the 5th largest in the Tōhoku region. It was constructed in the early to middle Kofun period, or around the late 4th to early 5th century AD. The site is a National Historic Site.[1]

The Tōmizuka Kofun is located in the southern portion of the Sendai Plain, approximately 3.5 kilometers southeast of Sendai Station. The surrounding area is noted for extensive Yayoi period remains, and the kofun was excavated by the Sendai City Board of Education in 1968 and 1972.

While this keyhole-shaped kofun has a characteristic shape, it is unusual is that the square front part is extremely lower than the round rear part. The total length is 110 meters, and the height of the two-tiered burial mound is 6.5 meters. The kofun is surrounded with an irregular-shaped moat, with width varying from 10 to 40 meter.

The number of grave goods found was extremely few for the size of the kofun. Only one quartz cylindrical bead, four glass balls and 18 combs made of lacquered bamboo were excavated. These artifacts are preserved at the Sendai City Museum and the site is now a public park. Japan National Route 4 cuts across the bottom portion of the site.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "遠見塚古墳 とおみづかこふん". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.

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