Mukō-Hakayama Tomb (Mukōhakayama Kofun)
Located just east of Hakayama Tomb, the name of this tomb, “Mukō-Hakayama,” means “beyond Hakayama.”
In 1989, archaeologists were able to excavate part of the mound and examine the layers of sediment. They discovered that the original builders alternated sand and silt, tamping down each layer before adding another. Similar to rammed earth structures, the packed layers of silt and sand make the mound very stable, able to withstand both earthquakes and erosion. The archaeologists also found evidence of two earth bridges that connected Mukō-Hakayama to the Hakayama kofun. The bridges were likely used to provide passage during rituals.
The Mukō-Hakayama tomb is 10.7 meters high and covers an area of about 0.3 hectares. When it was built in the beginning of the fifth century, it had two tiers covered with fist-sized stones and a flat top outlined with haniwa pottery figures.