Stone Karato Tomb - Ishi no Karato Kofun

Japanese: 石のカラト古墳 - いしのカラトこふん

<br /> This ancient tomb straddles Kabutodai, Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, and Jingu , Nara City, Nara Prefecture. It is a circular tomb built on a gentle slope at an altitude of 112m, and is also known as the Kazahahi Tomb. It is the only example of this shape in Japan, and it was designated a national historic site in 1996 (Heisei 8) due to its good condition. Based on the structure of the tomb and excavated artifacts, it is estimated to have been built in the 7th or 8th century, and is said to be extremely important as the tomb of a nobleman of that period. The mound was built in two stages using the tamped earth technique, with the square part of the first stage measuring 13.8m on each side, and the upper circular part of the second stage measuring 9.2m in diameter and 2.9m high. The surface of the lower stage is covered with stones 30cm in size, but most of the roofing stones on the upper stage have been lost. The stone chamber is a horizontal-type stone coffin ( sekkaku ), 1.15m wide, 2.6m deep, and 1.2m high, made of 15 pieces of cut tuff. Relics excavated include one gold and one silver ball, a silver-plated Chinese-style sword sheath metal fitting, pieces of gold leaf, a fragment of a wooden-core dry lacquer coffin, and one piece of sueki ware. It was designated a national historic site in 1996. It has now been restored to its original appearance and maintained as a park. It is about a 20-minute walk from Takanohara Station on the Kintetsu Railway Kyoto Line.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

京都府木津川市兜台と奈良県奈良市神功(じんぐう)にまたがる古墳。標高112mの丘陵部緩斜面に築造された上円下方墳で、別名をカザハヒ古墳ともいう。墳形が上円下方というわが国では唯一の例であり、遺存度も良好であることなどから、1996年（平成8）に国の史跡に指定された。古墳の構造や出土遺物から7～8世紀に築造されたと推定され、この時期の貴人の墓としてきわめて重要なものといわれている。墳丘は版築技法による2段築成で、第1段の方形部は1辺13.8m、第2段の上円部は径9.2m、高さ2.9mで、下段の表面は30cm大の石で葺かれているが、上段の葺石(ふきいし)はほとんど失われている。石室は横穴式石槨(せっかく)で、間口1.15m、奥行き2.6m、高さ1.2mあり、15枚の凝灰岩の切り石でできている。遺物は金・銀製の玉各1、銀装唐様太刀鞘責金具、金箔片、木心乾漆棺断片などのほか、須恵器(すえき)片1点が出土した。1996年（平成8）に国の史跡に指定された。現在、築造当時の姿に復元され、公園として整備されている。近畿日本鉄道京都線高の原駅から徒歩約20分。

出典　講談社国指定史跡ガイドについて　情報

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