A National Historic Site renowned for an unlooted sarcophagus and lavish gilt-bronze horse gear and ornaments. The Museum of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara lists Emperor Sushun and Princes Anahobe and Yakabe among the candidates for the occupant.
Finds & research
Two people were buried east-headed in the sarcophagus with four mirrors, a crown, shoes and a belt of gilt bronze, swords, beads, and other goods. The chamber also yielded richly decorated gilt-bronze horse gear with few parallels in Japan or abroad, among other items.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
It became a National Historic Site in 1991, and the objects from the chamber and sarcophagus were designated National Treasures in 2004.
Archaeological view
A round mound in Ikaruga about 50m in diameter (Archaeological Institute of Kashihara; Ikaruga Town; the National Museum of Japanese History compendium gives 48m) and about 9m high, substantially altered since the Heian period, built in the late 6th century. Its approximately 14m horizontal stone chamber contains a red-painted, hollowed-out house-shaped sarcophagus. The occupant is not established; the Museum of the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara lists Emperor Sushun, Princes Anahobe and Yakabe, and the Ki, Heguri and Kashiwade clans among the proposed candidates.
Field notes
Ikaruga Town carried out excavations in fiscal 1985, 1988 and later years. The chamber can normally be viewed through the window of the entrance door, and the inside can be seen during Ikaruga Town's special openings. It lies near Horyuji Temple.