A large keyhole mound preserved in Tamaoka Historic Park, Kasai. It is known as a setting of the Nehime legend in the Harima Fudoki, but the legendary characters have not been identified as its archaeological occupants. A Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education report describes it, together with Manju Kofun and others, as central to the Tamaoka Kofun Group.
Finds & research
Stones of a tuff chest-shaped sarcophagus remain in the rear-center looters’ pit. Finds include cylindrical, house-shaped, and rooster-shaped haniwa.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
Protected as the National Historic Site "Tamaoka Kofun Group" (designated 1943; expanded and renamed 1978, with further additions in 1988 and 1997), managed by Kasai City.
Archaeological view
A three-tiered keyhole mound about 109m long, with a rear circle about 64m across and a front about 54m wide, surrounded by a moat roughly 20m wide. Built in the 5th century. A looters' pit lies at the center of the rear circle.
Field notes
Within Tamaoka Historic Park, which has six original mounds and one relocated, reconstructed mound. From Hojomachi Station on the Hojo Railway, take the community bus to Kenko Fukushi Kaikan and walk about five minutes.