Tomb with ancient mural surveyed near Japan's Fukushima plant

Precise 3-D data on a tomb containing an ancient mural and situated about 3 kilometers from the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant was being collected on Feb. 9-10.

A surveying technician examines the mural inside the Kiyotosakuoketsu tomb, a government-designated historical 
heritage site, in Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture [Credit: Tatsuo Kanai]

The Kiyotosakuoketsu tomb is in the difficult-to-return zone with high radiation levels due to the 2011 nuclear disaster, and the mapping is being done in preparation for future unforeseeable circumstances.

A spiral pattern, animals including some people on horses and other objects are painted in red on a wall inside the tomb, which is well-known and represents northern Japan.

Tohoku University, in collaboration with the town government of Futaba, is collecting the data on the government-designated historical heritage site, which dates to the seventh century.

A surveying technician looks through a 3-D scanner inside the Kiyotosakuoketsu tomb, a government-designated 
historical heritage site in Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture [Credit: Tatsuo Kanai]

The data collected were on the tomb's exact shape and the artwork within.

“We want to collect the accurate data as this is a valuable cultural asset,” said Atsushi Fujisawa, an archaeologist of Tohoku University Museum.

Fujisawa and technicians from a land surveying company measured the tomb until Feb. 10 with a 3-D scanner while wearing protective clothing to prevent potentially damaging fungus spores from outside from entering the site.

On part of the mural, some minerals have crystallized in white. A tree root hangs from the ceiling of the tomb.

Author: Eiichi Miyashiro | Source: The Asahi Shimbun [February 11, 2017]