An early keyhole mound on a hill in Junna, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe. Its mirror and stone bracelets inform the study of the first keyhole mounds in the Akashi area.
Finds & research
Clay-encased split-bamboo-shaped wooden coffins in both sections, plus surrounding haniwa coffins; a pictorial-band same-direction-type deity-and-beast mirror, wheel-stones, stone bracelets, and glass beads. The 268 finds are Kobe City designated cultural properties.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
Hyogo Prefectural Historic Site (designated 2004); the 268 finds are Kobe City Designated Tangible Cultural Properties.
Archaeological view
A mirror-handle-shaped keyhole mound about 56m long. Kobe City’s heritage plan dates it to the beginning of the 4th century and the Kobe City Board of Education’s 2008 excavation report to the middle of the Early Kofun period; Akashi City Library calls it the earliest keyhole mound in the Akashi area. The Kobe City Board of Education’s excavation report describes clay-encased split-bamboo-shaped wooden coffins on the summits of both the rear and front sections, with haniwa coffins nearby. Finds from the rear include a pictorial-band same-direction-type deity-and-beast mirror, bracelet-shaped stone objects such as wheel-stones and stone bracelets, and many glass beads. Akashi City Library infers a female occupant from the bracelets and absence of iron arrowheads.
Field notes
Finds are held by the Kobe Archaeology Center. Check current Kobe City guidance for access to the mound and exhibition of the finds.