OSAKA -- Several unglazed earthenware sculptures, known as "haniwa," have been excavated from areas surrounding sixth-century ruins in northern Osaka Prefecture, according to researchers at the cultural assets research center of Takatsuki city.

Among the sculptures unearthed is one of the largest house-shaped artifacts ever discovered in Japan.

According to the center, 61 unglazed funerary artifacts made of clay were unearthed from an embankment at the Imashirozuka "kofun" -- tomb mounds in which Emperor Keitai, who is said to have reigned over the country between 507 and 531, is believed to be entombed.

The artifacts unearthed at the site are in the shape of houses, swords, warriors, shrine maidens, sumo wrestlers, a seated person, dogs and birds, center officials said.

One researcher said he believes the arrangement of the artifacts mirrors that at another excavation site and suggested funeral rites had been held there for the emperor.

The sculptures had been placed in two lines along the embankment of the mounds.

The house-shaped objects and 12 human-shaped objects had been positioned in the outer line, most of them facing west.

Bird-shaped haniwa were discovered in the inner line, closer to the tomb mounds, the officials said.

Four house-shaped sculptures were discovered at the site, with three of them featuring at least one column, they said. The largest one, believed to be a replica of a temple, stands around 170 cm high.

Katsuhisa Takahashi, a senior researcher at Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, remarked that one grouping of burial artifacts indicates that funeral rites were being held at that time.

Sculptures of sword-brandishing warriors were also unearthed at the site. Only one other sculpture of this design has been discovered in Japan before -- at the Hotoda-hachimanzuka kofun in Gunma Prefecture.