Muography as a new tool to study the historic earthquakes recorded in ancient burial mounds

Researchers using muography have uncovered evidence of large-scale vertical cracks at the top of Imashirozuka burial mound, suggesting instability predating the 1596 Fushimi earthquake. These findings indicate that the mound's foundation was inherently unstable before the seismic event, which triggered a rotational landslide and subsequent collapse. The study employed bidirectional muographic measurements—a non-invasive technique—to analyze the internal structure of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering new insights into the impact of historic earthquakes on ancient architectural heritage.

Tanaka, H. K. M., Sumiya, K., & Oláh, L. (2020). Muography as a new tool to study the historic earthquakes recorded in ancient burial mounds. Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems, 9(2), 357–364. https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-357-2020