Study of the design principles of keyhole-shaped tumulus, and kingship structures

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H01343
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03050:Archaeology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka City University
• Principal Investigator: KISHIMOTO Naofumi 大阪市立大学, 大学院文学研究科, 教授 (80234219)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 古墳時代 / 前方後円墳 / 設計 / 類型墳

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Design reconstructions were carried out for the Japanese royal tombs of the Saki tumulus group in the late Early Kofun period and the Furuichi and Mozu tumulus groups in the Middle Kofun period. Based on this, the continuity of the tombs was verified and it was confirmed that there were two series. Furthermore, it became clear that there was a third series of tombs.
The design procedure for the tombs of the kings of Japan is as follows: first, the diameter of the rear part, then the width of the front part, and then the ridge line are determined in relation to the length of the mound, the frame of the mound is determined, and the rear part and front part are allocated to each level of the front part. Based on this basic design of the tombs of the kings of Japan, a method for duplicating a similar type of tomb was clarified.

Free Research Field

日本考古学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年研究が進む前方後円墳の設計についての理解を前進させることができた。課題がまだ多いが、古墳時代中期の巨大前方後円墳を中心に進められている研究を見直し、前期後半からの推移を明らかにした。さらに前期前半や後期まで含めた分析を進めることで、前方後円墳がどのように変化を遂げてきたのかを、設計レベルで解明することができるだろう。仕様の変化を明らかにすることは、前方後円墳に込められた意識の推移に迫ることでもある。
また、設計の具体的な手順や、倭国王墓の設計がどのように複製されているかについて見通しを得たことは、今後、各地の前方後円墳について、そのモデルを見極めていく上で、大きな成果といえるだろう。