Maruhakayama Kofun

The Maruhakayama Kofun (丸墓山古墳) is a kofun burial mound located in the city of Gyōda, Saitama Prefecture, in the Kantō region of Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Historic Site in 1938 and re-designated as a Special National Historic Site of Japan in 2020 as part of the Sakitama Kofun Cluster.[1]

Maruhakayama Kofun
丸墓山古墳
Maruhakayama Kofun
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Maruhakayama Kofun
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Maruhakayama Kofun (Japan)
LocationGyōda, Saitama, Japan
RegionKantō region
Coordinates36°7′45.51″N 139°28′42.62″E
TypeKofun
History
Founded6th century AD
PeriodsKofun period
Site notes
Public accessYes

Overview

The Maruhakayama Kofun is a circular-type (empun (円墳)) kofun with a diameter of 105 meters and height of 18.9 meters, and is thus one of the largest circular tumuli in Japan.[2] Archaeological excavations have not been conducted and details of the burial chamber are unknown. The surface of the tumulus appears to have been covered only in fukiishi, with no haniwa shards having been discovered, and from this it is estimated that the tumulus was built in the early 6th century AD. From 1985 to 1986, maintenance work was conducted on the top and east side of the mound, and on a portion of the moat.

In 1590, during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign against the Odawara Hōjō, Ishida Mitsunari established his field headquarters on top of this tumulus, constructing a semi-circular embankment as part of the Siege of Oshi Castle, which is just visible from the top of the mound.

  • Panoramic view
    Panoramic view
  • Ishida Embankment
    Ishida Embankment
  • Sakitama Fire Festival
    Sakitama Fire Festival

See also

References
  1. "埼玉古墳群" [Saikitama Kofun Cluster] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  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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