Tomio Maruyama Kofun (Nara city, Japanese archipelago). Research history and main features

Archaeological studies of large burial mounds belonging to the elite of the Kofun period in the Japanese archipelago are rare and therefore always attract attention not only in Japan but also worldwide. The present article discusses research history and study of the Tomio Maruyama kofun (Nara City, Nara Prefecture). This burial mound is known since the 19th century. Around the same time it was subjected to unauthorized excavations. First official excavations were done in 1972, but comprehensive works began in 2016 and continued until 2022. The works provided new evidence on the history of the Kofun period and revealed that the Tomio Maruyama kofun is by far the largest round burial mound with the diameter of 109 meters. It is surrounded by a ditch and has a tsukuridashi annex. Two burials were found in the kofun. The burial at the top of the mound was excavated during the Meiji period, and collections are now kept in a museum. Excavation of the second burial discovered near the annex, revealed the largest sword (267 cm long) of the dako:ken type of curved swords. The second burial also contained a bronze mirror in the form of a shield previously unknown in the archipelago. Burial chambers in both burials were of vertical type common for the Early Kofun period. The excavations also revealed haniwa fragments of different types on the top and steps of the burial mound, including a haniwa in a form of house overlooking a spring.