Circular tumulus - Enpun

These are kofun tumuli with a circular plan view. In addition to perfect circles, there are also oval ones, and this is the most common shape seen in each period and region. Those from the 4th and 5th centuries have a wide, flat, truncated cone-shaped top, and in addition to small and medium-sized long-necked tombs, there are also many small tombs from the early period. Many of the small tombs from the second half of the 6th century onwards have significantly different mound heights due to the use of mountain hillsides, and only have mounded earth that is a slight bulge. Some are large, exceeding 50 metres in diameter, but among those that are said to be large circular tombs, there are also cases where the presence of low, small projections has been overlooked.

[Takashi Imai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平面形が円形の古墳。正円形のほかに長円形のものもあり、各時期、各地方にもっとも普遍的にみられる墳形である。4～5世紀のものは、墳頂平坦(へいたん)部が広く截頭円錐(さいとうえんすい)形であり、中・小首長墳のほかに前期小形墳も多い。6世紀後半以降の群小墳では山丘腹利用のため墳端位が著しく異なるものや地膨(じぶく)れ程度の盛土(もりつち)しかもたぬものも多い。径50メートルを超す大形のものもあるが、大形円墳とされているもののなかには、低く小さい造り出しの存在を見落とした例もある。

［今井　尭］

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