ASUKA, Nara Pref. -- Using a tiny, high-resolution camera, archaeologists on Thursday began examining the interior of the 1,300-year-old Kitora burial mound for the first time in 15 years, hoping to get clear images of mural paintings inside the stone tomb.

At 2:40 p.m., the 60 million yen camera, measuring just 3 cm in diameter, was inserted into the tomb through a 3-meter pipe as researchers and reporters watched expectantly on a monitor display nearby.

The Kitora Mound, situated about 1 km south of Takamatsuzuka Mound, is believed to have been built around the same time between the late seventh and early eighth century for the burial of an important person, such as a member of the Imperial family, a high government official or a top official from the Korean Peninsula.

In 1972, colorful murals inside the Takamatsuzuka tomb were found depicting men and women in Chinese and Korean-style clothing, as well as images of the moon, stars and mythological beasts. These cultural remnants correspond with the Asuka Period of the seventh century, in which numerous missions from the state of Paekche on the Korean peninsula arrived with Buddhist texts and artwork and scholars of Confucianism. The discovery of the images triggered an archaeological boom.

Experts hope to find similar paintings at the Kitora Mound and hope it will help establish more exactly just who is buried at the site and the site's relation to Takamatsuzuka Mound. Researchers also hope to assess any damage the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake may have had on the site.

In November 1983, the inside of the round Kitora burial mound, which is 14 meters in diameter and 2.6 meters high, was examined through a fiberscope. Found adorning the north wall of the tomb was a vague fresco of "Genbu," an imaginary, divine beast that resembles a turtle intertwined with a snake. The beast is considered to be the God of the North, according to ancient Chinese philosophy.

Research at that time, however, was terminated after the fiberscope broke down. This time, fifteen years and one new camera later, a team of archaeologists formed by members of the Asuka Municipal Government, the Nara National Research Institute of Cultural Properties and other organizations is resuming the project.

Japan Broadcasting Corp. developed the microcamera especially for the research. The camera's resolution is said to be more than 10 times better than the one used in 1983. The team will resume exploration of the other walls of the stone room this morning.