Nakagō Kofun Cluster

These tumuli date from the 4th to 6th century AD and were discovered during the construction of a highway bypass connecting the Hokuriku Expressway with Japan National Route 8, during which time a number of other archaeological discoveries were made, including the Yoshikawa Site, a Yayoi period settlement, and the Kotanigahora Kofun Cluster; however, neither of these sites received government protection and were totally destroyed during highway construction after a hasty compliance excavation.Grave goods found include weapons such as swords, spearheads, and fragments of gold-plated armor and helmets, bronze mirrors, and agricultural implements.[2] The weapons in particular are considered to be rare examples nationwide, and have been preserved since 2010 at a private folk museum in Tsuruga.The tumuli are about 15 minutes by car from Tsuruga Station on the JR West Hokuriku Main Line.[2] This site consists of three surviving circular-type kofun [ja] (empun (円墳)) on a hilltop ridge in the Yoshikawa neighborhood of Tsuruga.
Tsuruga, FukuiHokuriku regionKofun periodNational Special Historic Site of Japanburial moundsNational Historic Site of JapanSea of JapanHokuriku ExpresswayJapan National Route 8Yayoi periodcompliance excavationexcavatedburial chambersGrave goodsbronze mirrorsTsuruga StationJR WestHokuriku Main Linecircular-type kofunfukiishizenpō-kōen-funCircular tumulusKeyhole-shaped tumulusList of Historic Sites of Japan (Fukui)Agency for Cultural Affairs