The Ishibutai Kofun is a monumental tomb, archaeologically recognized as belonging to the Kofun period (3rd–6th century CE).
Composition of the Complex
- A horizontal burial chamber dug into the ground and covered by two enormous megaliths
- A long entrance corridor, now uncovered but once covered by stones
- A square platform 50 m (164 ft) per side
- A surrounding moat 12 m (39 ft) wide
- A total of 30 large stones used in construction, with an estimated total weight of about 2,300 tons (2,535 US tons)
Kofun Ishibutai – external view – 663highland – Own work – CC BY 2.5
Main stones
- North stone: 60 tons (59 long tons)
- South stone: 77 tons (76 long tons)
The stones come from nearby Mount Tōnomine, about 3 km (1.9 mi) away.
Important Detail: Traces of Older Tombs on the Sides
On the sides there are traces of seven older tombs, destroyed to obtain materials.