tunnel tomb; horizontal stone chamber tomb
A type of burial mound from the Kofun period (ca. 3rd–7th century) with a horizontal stone chamber accessible from the side, as opposed to vertical pit-style tombs. Used in archaeological and historical contexts.
Many tunnel tombs have been discovered in this region.
Tunnel tombs were a burial style that spread in the late Kofun period.
竪穴式石室 is a vertical pit-style stone chamber, contrasting with the horizontal layout of 横穴墓.
Compound of 横 (よこ, 'side, horizontal'), 穴 (あな, 'hole'), and 墓 (ぼ, 'grave'). The reading ぼ for 墓 is the on'yomi, while よこ and あな are kun'yomi, forming a mixed reading compound.