This paper examines vessels buried in the ‘grave goods space around the head of the deceased’ found within the main burial chamber of wooden chamber tombs with stone mounds. Various kinds of metal containers were buried in these ancient tombs and the formation of sets and selective use could be observed for certain types. Their use represents an ostentatious type of burial ritual used to display the social position of the buried person within a ceremonial context; the nature of their deposition was determined by the ceremonial properties shared by each group that constructed the tombs, as well as the rank and gender of the deceased. Ceramic vessels were buried as part of food rituals for the deceased; their deposition was associated with various contexts such as offerings (utensils used in ancestral rites) and rites for the funeral participants. In the case of high-status tombs, three to six artifact assemblage groups could be found in the ‘grave goods space around the head of the deceased’. Vessel sets of differing nature were respectively placed in boxes and buried. This practice is believed to be associated with various forms of offering rituals that had been undertaken for the deceased. Variation in terms of quantity and quality could be observed for the vessel types, reflecting the rank of the tomb owner. The artifacts placed within the ‘grave goods space around the head of the deceased’ of the main burial chamber were objects associated with the deceased, food ritual items, and utensils used in ancestral rites; the auxiliary chamber, on the other hand, was found to mainly contain pottery for storage. Beginning from the mid-5th century, side dish plates, steamers, and iron pots were buried so tombs can be considered to have also served as storage spaces for life in the afterworld.
Therefore, the various vessels found in the ‘grave goods space around the head of the deceased’ can be seen to be associated with food rituals. It can also be assumed that diverse offering rituals were conducted for the deceased, based on the assemblage groups, burial locations, functions, and characteristics of each vessel type.