Rock cut Tombs

At http://heritageofjapan.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/6thearly-8th-century-yok… … is about Late Kofun burial catacombs of the 6th to 8th centuries AD, some of which have lovely murals. They are thought to be the last resting place of individuals from a Japanese warrior society. However, a few of the images have the back drop of spirals and ring or maze like motifs, more commonly found in European rock art. The blog author then seeks an origin for the catacombs in East and Central Asia – even as far away as northern India. He also notes the kings of the land of Urartu in the Transcaucasus, were buried in rock cut tombs overlooking Lake Van. The problem with diffusion is getting the influence from central Asia to Japan. It is just as likely people in Japan found it worthwhile cutting holes into soft rock formations as an alternative to building free standing mounds and tombs – and this occurred at different times in different places.