noun
round boulders covering the slopes of a burial mound (Kofun period)
Archaeological term referring to the stone paving or covering on the slopes of ancient Japanese burial mounds (kofun).
前方後円墳の斜面には葺石が施されていることが多い。
The slopes of keyhole-shaped burial mounds are often covered with fukiishi.
この古墳の葺石は、川原石を用いている。
The fukiishi of this kofun uses river stones.
Kofun refers to the burial mound itself, while fukiishi specifically denotes the stones covering its slopes.
Compound of 葺く (fuku, 'to cover a roof with thatch or shingles') + 石 (ishi, 'stone'), referring to stones used to cover the surface of a mound.