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Mausoleum of Nintoku

mausoleum, Japan

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The Mausoleum of Nintoku is a large burial mound, or kofun, from Japan's Tumulus period (c. 250–710 CE). This period is characterized by the construction of these distinctive tombs, which were often keyhole-shaped and surrounded by moats. The sheer size of these mausoleums, like the one attributed to Emperor Nintoku which measures nearly 1,600 feet long, indicates a highly organized society with powerful rulers capable of mobilizing vast labor forces. These tombs served as burial places for the aristocracy and contained grave goods, such as armor, weapons, and haniwa clay sculptures, offering insights into the sociopolitical development and culture of the time.12

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