The Shimobaba Kofun (下馬場古墳) is a Kofun period burial mound, located in the Kusano neighborhood of the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture Japan. The tumulus was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1944.[1] Together with the Yakushi Shimokita Kofun and the Yakushi Shimominami Kofun, which no longer exist, it was part of the Yoshiki Kofun Cluster.

Shimobaba Kofun
馬場古墳
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Shimobaba Kofun
Location in Japan
Location in Japan
Shimobaba Kofun (Japan)
LocationKurume, Fukuoka, Japan
RegionKyushu
Coordinates33°18′50″N 130°37′22″E / 33.31389°N 130.62278°E / 33.31389; 130.62278
TypeKofun
History
Foundedc.6th century
PeriodsKofun period
Site notes
Public accessYes (occasionally)
Map

Overview

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The Shimobaba Kofun is located on a gentle alluvial fan at the northern foot of the Minou Mountains, which limits the southern part of the Chikugo Plain. It is a enpun (円墳) circular tumulus with a diameter of approximately 30 meters and a height of approximately fve meters, with a horizontal entry stone burial chamber orientated to the west. It has a length of 12 meters and is divided into a corridor and a front and rear chamber. It is thought to have been constructed in the latter half of the 6th century. The tomb has been robbed in antiquity, and there are no surviving grave goods; however, but a cylindrical haniwa was found at the base of the burial mound, and a female figurine clay figurine with a sash was discovered in the outer area during an archaeological excavation conducted in 2012. The excavation also confirmed that the tumulus was originally 42 meters in diameter and had been surrounded by a five-meter wide moat. The tumulus is a decorated kofun, and decorations are painted on almost the entire wall of the burial chamber, although they are faded and unclear. The decorations are mainly red-colored concentric circles, with continuous triangular patterns and ship-like shapes. It appears that some blue colors were also used. [2]

The tumulus is a 15-minute walk from Chikugo-Kusano Station on the JR Kyushu Kyūdai Main Line. It was formerly open to the public, but is now only open on a couple of days a year for preservation.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "下馬場古墳" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Isomura, Yukio; Sakai, Hideya (2012). (国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia. 学生社. ISBN 4311750404.(in Japanese)
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