Hakayama Tomb (Hakayama Kofun)

The Hakayama Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound from the first half of the fifth century, the fifth largest in the Furuichi area at 21 meters high and 4.3 hectares in total. Its sides were once covered in stones and edged with haniwa pottery, including what is now recognized as the oldest known human-shaped shield haniwa. The tomb's chamber was built from stone quarried in Takasago, Hyogo, about 100 kilometers away. Transporting such heavy material that distance signals the occupant held considerable wealth and power. Large caches of iron tools and weapons were found in five surrounding subsidiary tombs.