茅原大墓古墳（Chihara large tumulus tomb）

邪馬台国の女王、卑弥呼の墓ともいわれる箸墓（はしはか）古墳近くにある奈良県桜井市の茅原大墓（ちはらおおはか）古墳。考古学マニアの間でもあまり知られていない古墳が、邪馬台国の末路にかかわるカギを握るとして、近年の発掘で脚光を浴びている。一帯は３世紀後半の最古級の前方後円墳が多いが、茅原大墓古墳だけはなぜか４世紀末と飛び抜けて新しい。ヤマト王権は４世紀末に大阪平野に移動したため、王権発祥の地は一気に衰退したが、茅原大墓古墳は「卑弥呼の末裔（まつえい）」として最後の輝きを見せた。
　茅原大墓古墳は、箸墓古墳（全長約２８０メートル）の東わずか５００メートルに位置。全長８６メートルで、後円部は７２メートルに及ぶが、前方部はわずか１４メートルと極端に短く、ホタテ貝のような形から帆立貝（ほたてがい）式古墳と呼ばれる。このアンバランスな形は、大王クラスが葬られた前方後円墳よりランクが下とされる。
　「古墳の形は、茅原大墓古墳の被葬者が、すでに王権の中枢となった河内地方に及ばないことを示しているのでは」。発掘を担当した市教委の福辻さんはそうみる。
　箸墓古墳に代表される巨大前方後円墳の発祥地とされる桜井市など奈良盆地東南部は、３世紀後半から４世紀前半まで崇神、景行両天皇陵（いずれも天理市）など２００メートル以上の巨大前方後円墳が次々と築かれたが、それ以降、大型古墳の築造はパタリと止まった。
　４世紀末以降になると、応神天皇陵（大阪府羽曳野市、全長約４２０メートル）のある古市（ふるいち）古墳群や、仁徳天皇陵（堺市、同４８６メートル）などの百舌鳥（もず）古墳群に勢力は移り、「河内王朝」ともいわれた。
　首都が大阪平野に移動したなかで、ヤマト王権発祥の地の桜井市に築かれた茅原大墓古墳は、まさに「保守本流」としての最後の輝きだった。市教委によると、この地域では茅原大墓古墳以降、１００メートルに迫る古墳はなくなってしまう。
　同古墳で注目されるのが、昨年発見された国内最古といわれる人物埴輪（はにわ）だ。顔は笑っているように見えるが、冑（かぶと）をかぶり盾を持つ姿は、被葬者を邪悪な霊から守ろうとする力強さを感じさせる。政権の中枢を大阪に譲っても、人物をかたどった新しい埴輪文化をいち早く取り入れようとした底力がうかがえる。
　ただし、古墳の形が前方後円墳でなく帆立貝式古墳だったことに、本流ではなくなった悲哀もうかがえる。
　それでも福辻さんは、１００メートル近い古墳の規模に着目。「被葬者はたとえ主流でなくても、政権の一画に入っていたことを示すのではないか」と推測する。
　箸墓（はしはか）古墳も、卑弥呼の墓などといわれてはいますがはっきりしたことは分かっていません。宮内庁が厳重に管理しています。日本の古代史を明確にするためにも宮内庁の全面的な協力による公開が望まれるところですね。

Also known as the tomb of Queen Yamataikoku, Himiko's tomb chopsticks Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture of Chihara large tomb near the ancient tomb (or chopsticks) Tumulus (Grave O Hara inches). Burial Mound is not widely known even among archeology enthusiasts, as the key to relating to the fate of Yamataikoku, are in the limelight in recent years in the excavation. There are many new keyhole-shaped area is by far the oldest class in the late third century, only large tumulus tomb Chihara end of the 4th century and why. Because Yamato was moved to Osaka Plain at the end of the fourth century, the birthplace of royal power, but the decline at once, large tumulus tomb showed the brilliance of last Chihara as "(Shoei) descendant of Himiko".Chihara large tumulus tomb is located at only 500 meters east of the tumulus tomb chopsticks (280 meters in length). 86 meters in length, but the rear section extends to 72 meters, the front section 14 and the extremely short meters, and scallops, called tumulus equation (scallop) from shaped like a scallop. This unbalanced shape, and rank is below the keyhole class King was buried."Shape of the tumulus, indicates that you are not equal to the corpse of local Kawachi large tumulus tomb Chihara, has become a center of royal power already." Mr. Tsuji Fukuoka City Board of Education was responsible for the excavation is likely to see.Sakurai City, Nara Basin, such as the southeastern part be the birthplace of giant keyhole-shaped tomb mound represented by chopsticks, such as (Tenri both) Takashi God, until the first half of the fourth century landscape Ten'noryo line both from the late 3rd century It was built with giant keyhole-shaped people are more than 200 meters below, later, a large mound's construction was stopped and Patari.When since the end of the fourth century, mausoleum Ojinten'no (Habikino Osaka, about 420 m length) with tombs and Furuichi (Furuichi), Ryo Emperor Nintoku (Sakai City, the same 486 m), such as burial mounds Mozu (Mozu) power is transferred to the group, was also known as "Kawachi dynasty."Among the capital has been moved to the Osaka Plain, a large tumulus tomb was built in the city of Sakurai Chihara of the birthplace of the Yamato was the last shine as a "conservative mainstream" exactly. According to the city board of education in this area since the tumulus tumulus Chihara large tomb, close to 100 meters would no longer.Be said that it is noted in the same tumulus, and the country's oldest person was found last year's clay image (Haniwa). Face, but seems to be smiling, wearing a figure with a shield (Kada) is to feel the strength to try to protect from evil spirits Kabuto corpse. Ceded to the central Osaka also underlying strength of the regime, tried to quickly incorporate new Haniwa culture suggests that the shape of a person.However, in the form of a tumulus that was not keyhole-shaped burial mounds scallops expression, also suggests sorrow is no longer the mainstream.Mr. Tsuji, Fuzhou, focusing on the size of the tumulus still close to 100 meters. Guess "the corpse is though even if it is not mainstream, or is not indicating that it had entered into an image of the regime" and.
It is clear that we do not know yet been said but also grave tumulus chopsticks (or chopsticks), and such as Himiko's tomb. The Imperial Household Agency is strictly managed. I just published by the full cooperation of the Imperial Household Agency is also desirable to clarify the ancient history of Japan.