A two-tiered keyhole mound between the Mozu and Furuichi groups. It is 114m long; the front section is 65m wide and 11.6m high, while the rear circle is 64m across and 11m high. Built in the mid-5th century, it became a National Historic Site in 1957 and was reused as a fortification in the medieval period.
Finds & research
The pit-style stone chamber in the center of the front section yielded 24 cuirasses and 24 helmets, as well as numerous iron swords and other weapons. Some of the armor is displayed at the Sakai City Mihara Museum of History. The rear-circle burial facility was destroyed by looting.
Official status & archaeological view
Official status
Located in Mihara-ku, Sakai, it was designated a National Historic Site on October 24, 1957.
Archaeological view
Accounts of the excavation of the pit-style stone chamber in the center of the front section differ: Sakai City says excavation began in 1947, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs says it was surveyed in 1947, while Osaka Prefecture dates the excavation to 1946. The relationship between these dates has not been confirmed. Sakai City attributes construction to the Tajihi clan, which was powerful locally in the mid-5th century. The individual buried there is unidentified.
Field notes
The Kurohimeyama Kofun History Plaza, a historic-site park, has an interpretation facility. There is no parking, so visitors should use public transport.