Ushivika Kofun Cluster
Ushivika Kofun Group · Ushiwika Burial Mounds
Yayoi late 3rd c → Kofun 4th–6th c CE·Yayoi–Kofun transition — Suo Bay Kitakyushu·🇯🇵 Japan, Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kanda Town, Ushivika district on Suo Bay (Seto Inland Sea west) north Kyushu, Kanda plain, Japan
About
About Ushivika Kofun Cluster
Ushivika Kofun Cluster — late Yayoi to Kofun burial cluster (3rd–6th c CE, 11 mounds) on Suo Bay terrace at Kanda, north Kyushu, surveyed 1970s–90s. Ushivika revealed keyhole (zenpo-koen) and circular empun mounds with haniwa cylinders, Sue ware, and iron swords bridging Yayoi jar burial to Kofun. Ushivika Kofun No.1 (zenpo-koen 42 m long) with vertical pit burial and bronze mirror (4th c) shows early Kofun elite formation on Suo Bay gateway to Setouchi maritime. Kyushu Kofun corridor linking Himiko's Yamatai to Kinai.
Why it mattersSetouchi–Kyushu gateway — Yayoi jar to Kofun keyhole transition with bronze mirror elite
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Himiko–Yamatai link via Suo Bay?
Theories
- 01Kitakyushu as Setouchi maritime elite gateway
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.250–500 CE Late Yayoi → Middle Kofun
- Period
- Yayoi late 3rd c → Kofun 4th–6th c CE
- Culture
- Yayoi–Kofun transition — Suo Bay Kitakyushu
- Builders
- Kitakyushu Kofun elites on Suo Bay
- Purpose
- Suo Bay elite cemetery controlling Setouchi–Kyushu maritime and iron route
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.250 CE
Yayoi jar burials transition to keyhole No.1
c.400 CE
Zenpo-koen 42 m with bronze mirror elite burial
1970s–90s
Fukuoka Board cluster survey and haniwa preservation
On the ground
Structures & features
33.9200° N · 130.8700° E · 25 m · 2 mapped features
Zenpo-Koen No.1 Keyhole Mound
kofun42-m long keyhole No.1 with vertical pit and bronze mirror on eastern summit
33.9210° N · 130.8710° EEmpun Circular Mound Group
kofun7 circular empun mounds with haniwa cylinders and Sue ware scatter southwest
33.9190° N · 130.8690° E