“A Thousand Mounds”: Original Sites of Ancient Japan and Korea (Materials for Educational Course “Archaeology of Foreign Asia”)

A notable discovery from the Kofun Period (3rd–4th centuries) reveals that large-scale mounded tomb complexes, or 'packed tumuli clusters,' emerged as symbols of elite social support in central Honshu, Japan. These sites, often accompanied by Korean-origin artifacts such as ceramic rice-cookers and weapons, suggest significant cultural exchange and possible immigration of artisans from the Korean Peninsula to Japan. Parallels in Korea's ancient Gaya state further highlight shared burial traditions, including haniwa-like ceramic figures. The study, based on archaeological analysis, posits that these findings indicate both technological transfer and resettlement patterns, offering new insights into East Asian cultural dynamics during this period.

Gnezdilova, I. S., Nesterkina, A. L., & Solovyeva, E. A. (2021). “A Thousand Mounds”: Original Sites of Ancient Japan and Korea (Materials for Educational Course “Archaeology of Foreign Asia”). Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology, 20(3), 9–21. https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2021-20-3-9-21