KASHIHARA, Nara Pref. -- A planisphere carved into a stone chamber inside a 1,300-year-old tumulus in the village of Asuka shows such important constellations as Ursa Major, Orion and Scorpio, an expert has found.

Kazuhiko Miyajima, an associate professor of Japanese astronomical history at Doshisha University in Kyoto, analyzed the video image of a celestial sphere and stars chiseled into the ceiling of the stone chamber of the Kitora tumulus.

Miyajima said the planisphere is accurate and includes the equator and ecliptic. It is the oldest planisphere in East Asia with such features, he said.

The next oldest planisphere of its kind in the region is one from the Southern Song Dynasty dating back to the 13th century.

At the Kitora site, Miyajima first confirmed a carving of Canis Major toward the west on the planisphere. Orion is located close to Canis Major.

Miyajima also found Ursa Major, the North Star and Ursa Minor.

Toward the east, he found Scorpio.

Each star is indented like a crater, he said. The angle of the light entering the stone chamber makes some stars look white, while others are shown as shadows, he said.

Researchers studying the Kitora tumulus, believed to have been built in the late seventh century or in the early eighth century, do not rule out the possibility that gold foil was originally used to mark each star.

They think the planisphere shows that Japanese in those days actively imported astronomical knowledge from China.

The Kitora Mound is believed to have been built 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.

Situated about 1 km south of the Takamatsuzuka Mound, Kitora is believed to have been built during the same period.

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.