A nationally rare double-round mound at Seryutani in Kanan, formed by joining two unequal circular hills. The north circle contains a horizontal stone chamber about 10m long with two hollowed-out, house-shaped tuff sarcophagi. A passage and horizontal stone chamber are also known in the south circle, but its interior has not been investigated.
Finds & research
The looted north-circle chamber yielded small quantities of glass beads, earrings, horse fittings, an iron sword, and pottery fragments. Both house-shaped sarcophagi are in the north-circle chamber. Only the existence of the south-circle chamber is known; its dimensions, interior, and grave goods remain unknown.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
It was designated a National Historic Site on 15 February 1991 and is maintained and opened by Kanan Town as Kanayama Kofun Historic Park.
Archaeological view
Kanan Town currently gives a mound length of 85.8m: the south circle is 55.4m across, 9.4m high, and three-tiered; the north circle is 38.6m across, 6.8m high, and two-tiered. The Agency for Cultural Affairs designation text gives a length of 77.9m. A ditch surrounds the mound, and stones paved its terraces and summits. The sarcophagus types of the north circle suggest construction in the late 6th century and an additional burial around the early 7th century.
Field notes
The site is open as a historic park. Kanan Town advises taking the Shiraki community bus from Kintetsu Tondabayashi Station to Seryutani, followed by a walk of about one minute.