A National Historic Site in the Otokuni group with a well-preserved chamber and sarcophagus. Muko City considers, from the chamber design and grave goods, that it is the tomb of someone closely tied to Great King Keitai, who established the Otokuni palace in the early 6th century; no individual is identified.
Finds & research
Finds include horse gear, glass ornaments, metal crown fragments, weapons, and pottery. More than 2,000 finds, including these, were designated together as Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Properties in 2018.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
It was designated a component of the National Historic Site Otokuni Kofun Group on 1 March 2016. More than 2,000 excavated items were designated together as Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Properties on 23 March 2018.
Archaeological view
An approximately 46m keyhole mound at Nanjo, Mozume-cho, Muko, with two tiers in both rear and front. Built in the mid-6th century (the Muko City archaeological center gives the early 6th century), it has limited stone facing and haniwa rows. Its Kinai-style rear horizontal stone chamber contains an assembled house-shaped sarcophagus. Muko City describes its stone as tuff from Mount Nijo, while a 2001 Kashiwara City Board of Education report states that it combines Takamuro stone from Harima with stone from the western foot of Mount Nijo.
Field notes
The chamber is normally closed and opens only during a limited period each spring. Check Muko City for current dates and application procedures.