Tweet Date: 2/24/18
Article Date: 2/24/18
Article Publisher: Asahi
Article Link: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201802240032.html
Location: Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture
Site Name: Shijo-Tsukayama burial mound
Time Period: Yayoi?
Object: Burial mound maintained by the Imperial Household Agency
Why is this interesting/important? Researchers were allowed access to supposed burial site of Japan’s second emperor Suizei for the first time in the modern era. Although burial mounds are not uncommon in Japan, those that are believed to have been created for past emperors are generally off limits to researchers. Researchers were allowed to walk around the mound area with an escort, but no invasive investigative procedures were done. There is a lot unknown about the early rulers of Japan and the Imperial Household Agency is very protective of their sites. Getting some access is better than nothing, but I really hope that the trend of opening up will continue in the future.