The Wadaoka Kofun group (和田岡古墳群, Wadaoka kofun-gun) is an archaeological site with a cluster of burial mounds from the Kofun period located in what is now part of the city of Kakegawa, Shizuoka in the Tōkai region of Japan. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1996.[1]

Wadaoka Kofun group
和田岡古墳群
Yoshioka-Otsuka Kofun before renovation
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Wadaoka Kofun
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Wadaoka Kofun group (Japan)
LocationKakegawa, Shizuoka, Japan
RegionTōkai region
Coordinates34°46′40″N 137°57′06″E / 34.77778°N 137.95167°E / 34.77778; 137.95167
Typekofun
History
Founded5th to 6th century AD
PeriodsKofun period
Site notes
Public accessYes

Overview

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The Wadaoka Kofun group is located in an area measuring approximately 2.5 kilometers north-south by one kilometer east-west, on a low plateau overlooking the Haranoya River west of the downtown area of modern Kakegawa city. The site consists of four keyhole-shaped kofun (zenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳)), 15 circular-shaped kofun [ja] (empun (円墳)), and four square-shaped kofun [ja] (hōfun (方墳)), all dating from the 5th century to the sixth century AD. [2] The largest include:

Wadaoka Kofun group
Name Type Length
Wakanezuka Kofun
各和金塚古墳
keyhole 66.4 meters
Anterior: 20.5 m wide x 4 m high: Posterior 51.2 m diameter x 6.5 m high
Hisagozuka Kofun
瓢塚古墳
keyhole 63 meters long
Anterior: 25.2 m wide x 3.5 m high: Posterior 37.8 m diameter x 3.5 m high
Yoshioka-Otsuka Kofun
吉岡大塚古墳
keyhole 55 meters long
Anterior: 27.5 m wide x 2.5 m high: Posterior 41.3 m diameter x 7.2 m high
Gyojinzuka Kofun
行人塚古墳
keyhole 43.7 meters long
Anterior: 16 m wide: Posterior 25.4 m diameter
Harubayashiin Kofun
春林院古墳
circular 35 meters, height 5 meters
Usa-Hachiman-sha Kofun circular 30 meter diameter
Gongenyama Kofun circular 40 meter diameter
Ishinogata Kofun circular 25 meter diameter

These tumuli are believed to be the tombs of local kings who ruled the Haranodani River basin. The Wakanezuka Kofun is considered the oldest, but its pit-type burial chamber was robbed in 1974 before a proper archaeological excavation could be made. Many of the tumuli were once covered in fukiishi and had haniwa clay figurines, and the Yoshioka-Otsuka Kofun has traces of a moat remaining. Grave goods recovered from the tombs included, large numbers of iron weapons, fragments of armor, pottery shards and shinju-kyo bronze mirrors. [2]

The necropolis is located approximately 15 minutes on foot from the Tenryu Hamanako Line's Hosoya Station. There are plans to make an archaeological park in the area.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "和田岡古墳群" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
  2. ^ a b c 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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