A Final Kofun-period tomb. Its chamber, built of cut granite and thick unglazed tiles and finished with plaster inside, contained a dry-lacquer coffin. The deceased was a man about 60 years old, resting on a beaded pillow and clothed in brocade. Takatsuki City describes identification with Nakatomi (Fujiwara) no Kamatari as the leading theory, but the occupant is unconfirmed.
Finds & research
Finds included a pillow of blue and green glass beads strung on silver wire, brocade, and a cap embroidered with gold thread. Analysis of surviving X-rays indicates that the man fractured ribs and other bones several months before death. A 2024 X-ray study strengthened—but did not prove—the possibility that the cap was the high-ranking daishokkan crown.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
It was designated a National Historic Site on August 30, 1983.
Archaeological view
Discovered in 1934 during construction of a Kyoto University seismological facility, the site lies on a ridge about 210m above sea level on the mid-slope of Mount Abu. It has no earthen mound; a shallow circular ditch about 2.5m wide defines an 82m-diameter burial precinct. The 82m measurement is not a mound length. A dry-lacquer coffin stood in the central chamber. Takatsuki City describes as the leading theory that the occupant is Nakatomi (Fujiwara) no Kamatari, whom the Tonomine Ryakki records as buried on Mount Ai, but this is not confirmed.
Field notes
After the discovery investigation, the body and objects were reburied in their original arrangement. There is no parking; access involves an approximately 2km uphill walk from the nearest bus stop.