Otomezuka Kofun

Japanese: 処女塚古墳 - おとめづかこふん

<br /> An ancient tomb in Mikagezuka-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is located on an alluvial fan formed by the Ishiya River, and among the several early Kofun period tombs scattered across the coastal plain at the southern foot of Mt. Rokko, this one has retained its original state and mound. 200m west of this tomb is the 100m long keyhole-shaped tomb, Nishimotomezuka Tomb, and 200m east is the 80m long keyhole-shaped tomb, Higashimotomezuka Tomb, which are lined up in a straight line. Due to the relative positions of the three tombs, this tomb is said to be the tomb of Unaiotome , the heroine of a tragic love story from the Manyo period, and was designated a national historic site in 1922 (Taisho 11). Based on excavation surveys, restoration and maintenance of the mound and environmental improvement work have been carried out since 1979 (Showa 54), and it has been developed into a historic park. As a result of restoration, the total length of the mound, where the roofing stones were, was estimated to be about 70m, and changes in the earthworks revealed that it was a keyhole-shaped tumulus built in three tiers at the rear and two at the front. It is believed to be the oldest tumulus on the southern foot of Mt. Rokko, and is important in tracing the transition of this area, where early tumuli are concentrated. It is about a 3-minute walk from Ishiyagawa Station on the Hanshin Main Line of the Hanshin Electric Railway.

Source: Kodansha National Historic Site Guide Information

Japanese:

兵庫県神戸市東灘区御影塚町にある古墳。石屋川によって形成された扇状地にあり、六甲山南麓の海岸平野に分布する数基の古墳時代前期の古墳のなかで原状をとどめ、墳丘を残している。この古墳の西200mには全長100mの前方後方墳、西求女塚(にしもとめづか)古墳があり、東200mにある全長80mの前方後円墳、東求女塚古墳と、一直線に並ぶ3基の位置関係から、古く万葉の時代から悲恋の主人公、菟原処女(うないおとめ)の墓という伝説があった古墳であり、1922年（大正11）に国の史跡に指定された。1979年（昭和54）から発掘調査をもとに墳丘の復元整備と環境整備事業が行われ、史跡公園として整備された。葺石(ふきいし)があった墳丘の全長は復元の結果、約70mと推定され、段築は盛り土の変化などから、後方部3段、前方部2段に築成された前方後方墳であることが判明。六甲山南麓にあって最古の古墳とみられ、前期古墳が集中するこの地域の変遷をたどるうえで重要な古墳であることが明らかになった。阪神電鉄阪神本線石屋川駅から徒歩約3分。

出典　講談社国指定史跡ガイドについて　情報

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