The Shimoyama Kofun is a zenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳), which is shaped like a keyhole, having one square end and one circular end, when viewed from above. It is located on a hill at an elevation of approximately 70 meters overlooking the Kumazaki River. Its total length is 68 meters, with a posterior circular portion 46-meters in diameter, and a rectangular anterior portion 37 meters wide. Traces of a partial moat encircle the posterior portion and there is a baizuka ancillary tumulus. Near the boundary between the anterior and posterior portions, is a heavily damaged stone statue depicting warrior in armor. There are only two kofun in Ōita Prefecture that have such a statue: Shimoyama Kofun, and Usuzuka Kofun, also located in Usuki. In the posterior circular portion is a house-shaped sarcophagus measuring 2.5 meters long, 1.3 meters wide, and 1 meter high, the lid of which has a band pattern embossed on it. When excavated in 1951, the remains of two bodies, one male and one female, were found within the coffin, and the grave goods included a divine beast bronze mirror, a shell ring, cylindrical beads, a comb, an iron sword and iron arrowheads, an iron ax, etc. A large amount of iron material, believed to be unprocessed iron, was found outside the coffin. From these grave goods it is estimated that it was built in the middle of the 5th century. [2]
Currently, a shelter has been placed over the sarcophagus to permit public viewing. The tumulus is approximately a 15-minute walk from Kumasaki Station on the JR KyushuNippō Main Line. [2]
^"下山古墳" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
^ abIsomura, Yukio; Sakai, Hideya (2012). (国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia. 学生社. ISBN4311750404.(in Japanese)
External linksedit
Usuki City home page(in Japanese)
April 12, 2024
shimoyama, kofun, usuki, shimoyama, kofun, 下山古墳, kofun, period, keyhole, shaped, burial, mound, located, shibao, neighborhood, city, usuki, Ōita, island, kyushu, japan, tumulus, designated, national, historic, site, japan, 1957, shimoyama, kofun下山古墳shimoyama, . Shimoyama Kofun 下山古墳 is a Kofun period keyhole shaped burial mound located in the Shibao neighborhood of the city of Usuki Ōita on the island of Kyushu Japan The tumulus was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1957 1 Shimoyama Kofun下山古墳Shimoyama KofunShimoyama KofunShow map of Oita PrefectureShimoyama Kofun Usuki Japan Show map of JapanLocationUsuki Ōita JapanRegionKyushuCoordinates33 07 57 6 N 131 47 33 E 33 132667 N 131 79250 E 33 132667 131 79250TypeKofunHistoryFoundedc 5th centuryPeriodsKofun periodSite notesPublic accessYes no facilities National Historic Site of Japan Contents 1 Overview 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksOverview editThe Shimoyama Kofun is a zenpō kōen fun 前方後円墳 which is shaped like a keyhole having one square end and one circular end when viewed from above It is located on a hill at an elevation of approximately 70 meters overlooking the Kumazaki River Its total length is 68 meters with a posterior circular portion 46 meters in diameter and a rectangular anterior portion 37 meters wide Traces of a partial moat encircle the posterior portion and there is a baizuka ancillary tumulus Near the boundary between the anterior and posterior portions is a heavily damaged stone statue depicting warrior in armor There are only two kofun in Ōita Prefecture that have such a statue Shimoyama Kofun and Usuzuka Kofun also located in Usuki In the posterior circular portion is a house shaped sarcophagus measuring 2 5 meters long 1 3 meters wide and 1 meter high the lid of which has a band pattern embossed on it When excavated in 1951 the remains of two bodies one male and one female were found within the coffin and the grave goods included a divine beast bronze mirror a shell ring cylindrical beads a comb an iron sword and iron arrowheads an iron ax etc A large amount of iron material believed to be unprocessed iron was found outside the coffin From these grave goods it is estimated that it was built in the middle of the 5th century 2 Currently a shelter has been placed over the sarcophagus to permit public viewing The tumulus is approximately a 15 minute walk from Kumasaki Station on the JR Kyushu Nippō Main Line 2 See also editList of Historic Sites of Japan Ōita References edit 下山古墳 in Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs Retrieved August 20 2023 a b Isomura Yukio Sakai Hideya 2012 国指定史跡事典 National Historic Site Encyclopedia 学生社 ISBN 4311750404 in Japanese External links editUsuki City home page in Japanese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shimoyama Kofun Usuki amp oldid 1193201760, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
