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"NIHON KÔKOGAKU" 3 Abstracts

[A] : Article, [RN] : Research Note
No. 3, November 1996, 115p; ISSN 1340-8488, ISBN 4-642-08973-X
[A] ONISHI Tomokazu "Value" as seen in Kofun Period Tomb Mounds: The Case of Roji Tomb, Fukuoka Prefecture 1-19
[A] MASUDA Kazuhiro Technological Changes in Kinai-style Horizontal Stone Chambers and Their Relation to Historic Developments 21-52
[A] MIYASHIRO Eiichi Research on Saddles Decorated with Metal Fittings of the Kofun Period 53-82
[A] JOGATANI Kazuhiro The Formation of the Ritsuryo Order and the Production of Sue: The Development of Kilns for Firing Both Roof Tiles and Sue in the Seventh Century 83-100
[RN] SHUDAI Hideaki The Drainage System of Kamakura, The Shogunal Capital of Medieval Japan 101-111

No. 3, November 1996, 115p; ISSN 1340-8488, ISBN 4-642-08973-X
[A]	ONISHI Tomokazu	"Value" as seen in Kofun Period Tomb Mounds: The Case of Roji Tomb, Fukuoka Prefecture	1-19
[A]	MASUDA Kazuhiro	Technological Changes in Kinai-style Horizontal Stone Chambers and Their Relation to Historic Developments	21-52
[A]	MIYASHIRO Eiichi	Research on Saddles Decorated with Metal Fittings of the Kofun Period	53-82
[A]	JOGATANI Kazuhiro	The Formation of the Ritsuryo Order and the Production of Sue: The Development of Kilns for Firing Both Roof Tiles and Sue in the Seventh Century	83-100
[RN]	SHUDAI Hideaki	The Drainage System of Kamakura, The Shogunal Capital of Medieval Japan	101-111

Research on Saddles Decorated with Metal Fittings of the Kofun Period

MIYASHIRO Eiichi

A six-stage typology of saddles decorated with metal fittings is proposed as a contribution to the chronological study of the Kofun Period. Although the chronological framework for this period has already been established using frequency seriations of a variety of objects, from pottery to iron armor, Japanese archaeologists can increase the precision of this chronology by taking into consideration typologies of a greater variety of objects. In particular, this study may help increase the precision of the chronology for the Middle and Late Kofun periods (fifth and sixth centuries) , for which typologies of horse trappings, including saddles, have not been established.

Prior to devising a chronological framework, I classify saddles with metal fittings into four classes: wooden saddles; gilt bronze iron-covered saddles; iron-covered saddles; gilt bronze-covered saddles. The fittings taken into consideration are the iso (the portion of the saddle bow in contact with the horse's back), yama (the outer edge of the saddle bow), umi (the middle part of the saddle bow), edge-frames and nails, and shiode (hip strap buckles ) (Fig. 1). The four classes of saddles are further divided into three, six, two, and two types respectively, based on characteristics of these five kinds of fittings.

The six stages are as follows: stage I (middle fifth century), marked by the adoption of saddles in Japan; II (late fifth century), marked by the adoption of gilt bronze iron-covered saddles; stage Ill (early sixth century), characterized by the use of shiode consisting of two separate parts, making the buckle very flexible; stage IV (middle sixth century), characterized by the use of shiode without a middle pin for the ring, which suggests a different way of tying hip straps to the saddle; stage V (late sixth century) featuring an iso made in one part rather than two , indicating simpler production; stage VI (end of the sixth century), characterized by the adoption of shiode buckles for both the front and rear saddle bows (until stage V, shiode were attached only to the rear), which might be related to the functions of hip straps and collars.

Keywords:

Chronology; saddle; typology; seriation; Kofun period

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