Roofing stone

These are stones used to cover the surface of the mound of a kofun burial mound. In most cases, they are only used on the slopes of the mound, and not on the flat surfaces, and are thought to have been a facility to prevent the loss of embankment. In the story of the construction of Hashihaka in Nara Prefecture, recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, stones were transported in a relay style from Mt. Osaka, and these likely refer to roofing stones. They are more common in Early and Middle Kofun periods, but are rarely used in Late Kofun periods. Furthermore, because a kofun covered with roofing stones looks like a stone mound when viewed from a distance, it is necessary to consider the connection with the stone mounds of Goguryeo (stone-piled mounds).

[Kouichi Mori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古墳の墳丘の表面を葺いている石。墳丘の斜面だけに用い、平坦(へいたん)面には使わない場合が多く、盛土の流失を防ぐ施設と考えられる。記紀にしるす奈良県箸墓(はしはか)の造営説話での大坂山の石をリレー式で運搬したというのは葺石のことであろう。前期と中期古墳に多く、後期古墳では使用例が少ない。なお、葺石で覆った古墳を遠望すると石塚の観を呈しているから、高句麗(こうくり)の石塚（積石塚(つみいしづか)）との関連を考慮する必要がある。

［森　浩一］

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