Decoration of the burial chambers of the Kofun period, Japan, and the natural-science research methods of the pigments

The article presents the material characterizing the mounds of the kofun period with the decoration of the burial chambers. The tradition of painted burial chambers existed since the end of IV to the beginning of VII century over the extensive area of the archipelago, during this time a “decorated tomb” (sosyoku kofun) was created. At the end of VII -beginning of VIII century was created a “mural painting tomb” (hekiga kofun, Takamatsuzuka kofun and Kitora kofun). Different techniques were used for the decoration of the burial chamber: engraving; painting pigments; engraving followed by paint pigments. As evidenced by the results of natural-science analysis, the decorations were made with the limited set of paints, mainly from mineral pigments. The materials for the pigments were the minerals, clay, and coal which could be mined nearby.