This ancient tomb was built on the hillside on the left bank of the Yoshino River in southern Nara Prefecture. Excavations were carried out in 1980.
The tomb is circular with a keyhole, with the main axis of the mound parallel to the Yoshino River and the front part facing southwest. No roofing stones or haniwa have been found on the surface of the mound, but rows of stone slabs made of chlorite schist and other materials have been found. The burial facility is a double-sided horizontal-hole type stone chamber in the circular rear part, with the main axis of the chamber perpendicular to the main axis of the mound and opening to the southeast. Many grave goods such as accessories, horse equipment, and sueki ware have been found inside the stone chamber.
Minamiata Otsukayama Tomb is estimated to have been built in the first half of the 6th century during the late Kofun period. It is an important tomb because it is one of the few keyhole-shaped tombs in the middle and lower reaches of the Yoshino River, and because it has a large horizontal-hole type stone chamber in an area with few horizontal-hole type stone chambers. As for who was buried here, there has long been a tradition that it was the grave of Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu, although the period is different.
The tumulus area was designated a Nara Prefecture historic site in 1956 (Showa 31).
There is a bit of mountain climbing, so be careful with your shoes. You can enter the stone chamber, and it is wide enough for an adult man to stand inside.
Translated by Google •
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!