Haniwa (ring of clay) statues are unglazed earthenware sculptures that were made between the third and the sixth century C.E., primarily to protect grave mounds from erosion or to mark burial sites. Though they originally took the form of simple cylinders, by the fourth century haniwa also included human figures, animals, and occasionally architectural structures. This example includes a female figure sculpted on the top of the typical haniwa cylinder, which would be buried in the ground. She has two looped bows on her dress and one remaining earring on the left side of her head. The round clay pieces attached to her neckline appear to be remnants of a necklace, suggesting that she represents a shrine maiden known as a miko. Figures of such maidens were the most popular haniwa sculptures, due to the status of the maidens in Japan at that time.