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.[1]
北江間横穴群 | |
 Kitaema Yokoana-kofun | |
  Kitaema Yokoana-kofun  Kitaema Cave Tombs (Japan) | |
| Location | Izunokuni, Shizuoka, Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Tōkai region |
| Coordinates | 35°03′17″N 138°55′13″E / 35.05472°N 138.92028°E |
| Type | grave |
| History | |
| Periods | Kofun period |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | Yes |
Overview
editThe 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.[2]
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.[3] The National Historic Site designation was expanded due to additional finds in 1985.[2]
The site is approximately 15 minutes by foot from Izu Hakone Railway's Izu-Nagaoka Station.[2]
Gallery
edit-
Interior of Cave-tomb No.1 -
Sarcophagus from Cave-tomb No.1 -
Interior of Cave-tomb No.8
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "北江間横穴群" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c 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
edit
Media related to Kitaema ancient graves at Wikimedia Commons
- Izu Geopark official site (in Japanese)
- Izunokuni tourist information page (in Japanese)