| 北江間横穴群 | |
 Kitaema Yokoana-kofun | |
  Kitaema Yokoana-kofunShow map of Shizuoka Prefecture Kitaema Cave Tombs (Japan)Show map of Japan | |
| Location | Izunokuni, Shizuoka, Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Tōkai region |
| Coordinates | 35°03′17″N 138°55′13″E / 35.05472°N 138.92028°E / 35.05472; 138.92028 |
| Type | grave |
| History | |
| Periods | Kofun period |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
| National Historic Site of Japan | |
The Kitaema Cave Tombs (北江間横穴群, Kitaema Yokoana-kofun gun) is an archaeological site containing the ruins of a final Kofun period to early Nara period necropolis in what is now part of the city of Izunokuni, Shizuoka, in the Tōkai region of Japan. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1976, with the area under protection expanded in 1985.
Overview
The Kitaema site is north of the city center of Izunokuni on the banks of the Kano River. The site consists of ten corridor-type kofun (横穴式石室, yokoana-shiki sekishitsu) with burial chambers excavated into the side of a tuff hill to the west (the "Daishiyama group") and a second set of more than 40 tombs to the east (the "Daihoku" group), and includes stone house-shaped sarcophagus made from hollowed-out stone. The largest of these cave tombs extends 6.5 meters (21 ft) into the hillside, but the average is one to three meters (3 to 10 ft), with a height of approximately one meter (3 ft). The graves indicate a period of transition between burial and cremation.
One grave contained a 1200-year-old stone coffin shaped like a house and inscribed "Wakato-nari", which was presumably the name of the person associated with the tomb. This coffin was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1993. The National Historic Site designation was expanded due to additional finds in 1985.
The site is approximately 15 minutes by foot from Izu Hakone Railway's Izu-Nagaoka Station.
Gallery
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Interior of Cave-tomb No.1
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Sarcophagus from Cave-tomb No.1
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Interior of Cave-tomb No.8
See also
References
- "北江間横穴群" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ Isomura, Yukio; Sakai, Hideya (2012). (国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia. 学生社. ISBN 978-4311750403.(in Japanese)
- "石櫃／静岡県伊豆長岡町大北二十四号横穴出土" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
External links
Media related to Kitaema ancient graves at Wikimedia Commons
- Izu Geopark official site (in Japanese)
- Izunokuni tourist information page (in Japanese)