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.