Video Image Analysis of Kitora Kofun, Nara
1,300-year-old mural paintings have been analyzed without excavation

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Archaeological examination of Kitora Kofun (an ancient burial tomb), Asuka, Nara without excavation was carried out in March, 1998. Using a finger sized high-resolution microcamera, 1,300-year-old mural paintings inside the stone chamber were found. It was the next discovery to Takamatsuzuka kokun in Japan.
The joint research group of Tokai University Research & Information Center and NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) has analyzed video images taken with the microcamera by using digital image processing. As the results, a digital mosaicked image of inside the chamber, the mural paintings of mytholpgical beasts (Genbu, Byakko, etc.) and the ancient astronomical chart seen from a defferent view angle have been made.

Mosaicked image of inner chamber room

3D simulation of the chamber observation
©Asuka,TRIC,NHK

Orthographic projection image of the constellation

Mosaicked image of inner chamber room）