伏原大塚古墳

伏原大塚古墳 was a large square burial mound in 楠目, 土佐山田町, 香美市, 高知県, Japan. It stood on the northeastern part of 長岡台地, an alluvial terrace on the right bank of 物部川, overlooking 高知平野. The site is dated by typological estimate to 250 CE to 650 CE.

The mound measured 34 metres on each side and was surrounded by a moat about 2 metres wide, with another moat about 3 metres wide outside it on the west. Including the moats, the burial complex measured 38 metres north to south and 43 metres east to west. Most of the mound has been leveled, and its stone chamber is lost; the burial facility is thought to have been a horizontal stone chamber.

Excavations were carried out for 5 days in 1977 and more fully in 1991-1992年度. Finds included 須恵器, 埴輪, 土師器, 装身具 and 馬具. More than 2000 pieces of 埴輪 were recovered, including 須恵器系円筒埴輪 without openwork holes. The mound is attributed to the latter part of the second quarter of the 6世紀, with later burials in at least 2 phases through the 6世紀後半 and 6世紀末-7世紀前半, and possibly the 7世紀後半.

The large tomb and rich finds have led to its interpretation as the tomb of a leader who controlled much of 高知平野. Seven reconstructed examples of the excavated 埴輪 were designated 高知県指定有形文化財 in 1995 and are kept by 高知県立歴史民俗資料館. Later tradition in 『南路志』 and 『土佐物語』 places 山田氏 at the site before their conflict with 長宗我部氏.

伏原大塚古墳 is a megalithic mound (tumulus with integral stones) in Japan. A typological estimate: 250 CE to 650 CE. No English Wikipedia article exists for it; the full text below is the Japanese article "伏原大塚古墳", shown in the original language.