Furuichi Kofun Group
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Overview
The Furuichi Kofun Group extends over an area of 2.5 kilometers north-to-south by four kilometers east-to-west, covering plateaus and hill with an average elevation of 24 meters above sea level. These tumuli were built between the late 4th and the mid-sixth century AD. Twenty-seven, including many of the larger tumuli, are under the control of the Imperial Household Agency and are classified as "imperial tombs", for which archaeological excavation has been prohibited.
In 2010 the Furuichi Kofun Group of tumuli, along with those of Mozu Kofun Group, were proposed for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On 6 July 2019, Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under Criteria: (iii), (iv).
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Decline of The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group
After the Ichinoyama Kofun, the era of grand tomb groups began to decline. Though a few large tombs were still erected, like the Okamisanzai Kofun, the frequency and size began to diminish. The Kawachi Otsukayama Kofun is an outlier, situated between the Mozu and Furuichi Kofun Groups, was built, measuring a staggering 355 meters in length. Its construction during this period remains a mystery, calling for further research and analysis.
As the Furuichi Kofun Group progressed past its prime, the center of tomb construction transitioned to locations such as Shinagadani (also referred to as Kawachi-Asuka), near present-day Taishi Town. The primary locus for tombs in the Kawachi region shifted from Mozu and Furuichi to areas like Shinaga.
Types
- zenpō-kōen-fun (前方後円墳) ("keyhole-shaped) : formerly 31, 26 survive
- empun (円墳) ("circular"): formerly 30, 5 survive
- hōfun (方墳) ("square"): formerly 48, 22 survive
- indeterminate: formerly 14, 34 survive
Total: formerly 123, 87 survive