Saki Tatanami Kofun Cluster
Saki Kofun Group · Heijo Palace Northern Kofun Cluster
Kofun Middle 4th–6th c CE (Yamato middle)·Mid-Kofun Yamato — Saki royal cemetery north Heijo·🇯🇵 Japan, Kansai, Nara Prefecture, Nara City, Saki district— Tatanami hills 4 km north of Heijo Palace, northern Nara basin edge, Japan
About
About Saki Tatanami Kofun Cluster
Saki Tatanami Kofun Cluster — massive 4th–6th c CE Kofun cemetery (7 km long, 120+ mounds) at Saki–Tatanami hills 4 km north Heijo Palace, northern Nara basin edge, surveyed 1970s–90s by Nara Nabunken. Saki revealed keyhole zenpo-koen (Konabe Kofun 204 m, Uwanabe 174 m, Hishiage 219 m), circular empun, and square hofun with haniwa armies, Sue ware, and iron production evidence buffering Yamato's northern frontier to Heijo. Heijo Palace Heijo later reused Saki moats for state ceremony. Links Kofun to Asuka via Yamato's northern royal necropolis.
Why it mattersYamato's largest Kofun belt — 120+ mounds buffering northern Heijo before 710 capital
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Yamato northern vs southern cemetery dualism
Theories
- 01Saki as Heijo moat ceremony precursor model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.4th–6th c CE Middle Kofun zenith
- Period
- Kofun Middle 4th–6th c CE (Yamato middle)
- Culture
- Mid-Kofun Yamato — Saki royal cemetery north Heijo
- Builders
- Yamato kings (pre-Heijo northern necropolis)
- Purpose
- Northern Yamato dynastic cemetery flanking Heijo route and Yamato frontier
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.400 CE
Konabe 204 m zenpo-koen northern royal tomb
c.500 CE
Hishiage 219 m peak Middle Kofun
1970s–90s
Nabunken survey before Heijo park expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
34.6950° N · 135.7800° E · 75 m · 2 mapped features
Konabe Keyhole 204 m Mound
kofun204-m Konabe zenpo-koen with haniwa anthropomorphic array and moat north of Heijo
34.6970° N · 135.7810° EHishiage 219 m Moat System
moat40-m wide surrounding moat of Hishiage zenpo-koen 219 m on Tatanami ridge
34.6930° N · 135.7790° E