Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun: A Fifth-Century Burial Mound in Japan
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 3.3
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Japan
- Primary era
- Classical
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Classical
- Civilizations
- Yamato
- Site type
- Burial
- Remains
- Burial Mound
On this page11 sections
History
Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun is a large keyhole-shaped burial mound in Joyo, Kyoto, Japan, built in the first half of the fifth century during the early part of the Middle Kofun period in ancient Japan. It formed part of the Kutsukawa Kofun Group, a concentration of more than 100 burial mounds on the hilly right bank of the Kizu River. The mound’s size and burial goods indicate that it was the tomb of a paramount leader who ruled southern Yamashiro.
Formation of the Kutsukawa Kofun Group
Kutsukawa Kurumazuka was built at approximately the same time as Maruzuka Kofun, one of the group’s three large mounds. Kajizuka Kofun followed, while Bashozuka formed another major burial mound in the wider group. Together, these monuments reflect the organization of authority in southern Yamashiro during the Middle Kofun period, when powerful leaders were commemorated through large burial mounds.
Investigation and Heritage Protection
Investigation of the mound began in 1894, when construction of the Nara Railway, now the JR Nara Line, led to excavation in the rear circular section. Workers discovered an unlooted stone coffin and grave goods. Further investigation took place in 1915, and its results were published in 1920. Doshisha University surveyed the mound in 1962, followed by a Ryukoku University survey in 1972. Joyo City has conducted excavations in several stages since 1975, while mound surveys and excavation connected with the site’s development as a historic place began in fiscal year 2013 and have continued since then.
The mound received national historic-site designation in 1979 together with Maruzuka Kofun under the name “Kutsukawa Kurumazuka and Maruzuka Kofun.” Bashozuka Kofun and Kuse Elementary School Kofun were added in 2016, when the designation was renamed the “Kutsukawa Kofun Group.” The seven mirrors from Kutsukawa Kurumazuka Kofun became nationally important cultural properties in 1953. The stone coffin and associated beads, ten stone knives, and one iron sword received the same status in 1991. The JR Nara Line now crosses the area of the kofun.
Remains
Mound Layout and Enclosures
The surviving monument is approximately 180 meters long and combines a circular rear section to the north with a rectangular front section facing south. Including its surrounding moats, the complex extends for approximately 272 meters. The mound rises in three stepped tiers, with stone facing and rows of cylindrical haniwa, clay objects placed around or on burial mounds, along the individual levels.
Two concentric moats surrounded the mound. The outer bank is more than 8 meters wide and carried two rows of haniwa. A crossing embankment was identified in the moat west of the rear circular section. At the junction between the circular rear and rectangular front sections, a projecting platform extends from the western side. It measures approximately 31 meters from north to south, 13 meters from east to west, and 3.1 meters in height. A complete row of cylindrical haniwa enclosed the platform.
Burial Facilities
Stone Coffin in the Rear Section
The central burial facility in the rear circular section was a direct burial, meaning that the coffin was placed in a pit without a separate built chamber. Its long chest-shaped stone coffin lay with its north-south axis parallel to the main axis of the mound. Six tuff slabs formed the coffin: one lid, two side slabs, two end slabs, and one base slab. Tuff is a relatively soft rock made from consolidated volcanic ash. Projecting knobs on the lid and side slabs provided points for ropes, while small rubble-built stone chambers were formed at the northern and southern ends.
Railway construction in 1894 revealed the coffin together with numerous grave goods, including bronze mirrors. The original coffin is preserved and displayed at the Kyoto University Museum. Replicas are displayed at the Joyo City History and Folklore Museum and the Yamashiro Local History Museum.
Burial in the Western Platform
The western projecting platform contained a second direct burial. Its fitted wooden coffin was approximately 67 centimeters wide and rested on clay spread across the bottom of the burial pit. Grave goods were recovered both inside and outside the coffin. The northern half of the platform was used for food-offering ceremonies involving pottery and clay objects, giving the structure both a ritual area and a burial function.
Haniwa and Grave Goods
Figurative and Cylindrical Haniwa
The mound produced cylindrical and morning-glory-shaped haniwa, along with figurative examples representing houses, enclosures, quivers, ceremonial umbrellas, and water birds. The large figures stood on the exterior of the western platform. One cylindrical haniwa bears an incised ship design on its uppermost tier.
Bronze Mirrors and Other Objects
Seven bronze mirrors were excavated from the mound. The group consists of one patterned-band divine-beast mirror, one triangular-rimmed divine-beast mirror, one variant patterned-band divine-beast mirror, and four variant four-beast mirrors. The mirrors are preserved and displayed at a museum in Kyoto. Other grave goods included beads, ten stone knives, and an iron sword associated with the stone-coffin burial, together with the additional objects recovered from the wooden-coffin burial.
