A keyhole-shaped mound formerly located in Hiyama, Tatsuno-cho, Tatsuno City, Hyogo Prefecture. A 1954 excavation, prompted by ground leveling for the athletic field of Hyogo Prefectural Tatsuno High School, found numerous grave goods in its stone chamber; the mound no longer survives. A gold heart-shaped ear ornament and other finds from the site are held by the Kyoto National Museum.
Finds & research
A gold heart-shaped ear ornament (thought to have been made on the Korean peninsula), horse gear including an iron ring-shaped unzu ornament, a wood-core iron-plated stirrup, iron arrowheads and other weapons, amber beads, and Sue ware (including decorated pieces) and Haji ware were found largely in their original positions within the stone chamber.
Archaeological view
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Cultural Heritage Online database, it was a keyhole mound about 35m long with a single-alcove horizontal stone chamber, dated to the early 6th century of the Late Kofun period. A 1954 excavation found grave goods largely in their original positions within the stone chamber in the rear circular section.
Field notes
The mound no longer survives. The finds are held by the Kyoto National Museum, which held a special exhibition, "The Reality of Late Kofun Mounds: A Chieftain's Tomb of Harima, Nishimiyayama Kofun," in January–February 2022. The pin marks the vicinity of Tatsuno High School, near the mound's former location.