A sword measuring 237 cm long (7 feet 9 inches) has been discovered during an archaeological dig in Nara City. It is believed to be the largest iron sword ever found in Japan.
Archaeologists made the discovery during excavations at the Tomio Maruyama Burial Mound, which dates to the fourth century CE. They also found a tortoiseshell-shaped copper mirror.
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Photo from City of Nara
In a report released by Nara City authorities, they explain the serpentine sword is about 6 cm wide and has a meandering shape. Remains of a scabbard were also found. Overall, it is believed that the sword was originally 267 cm (8 feet 9 inches) long.
They also described the second object:
The tortoiseshell-shaped copper mirror was about 64 cm long and about 31 cm wide, and was leaning diagonally to match the shape of the clay that covered the coffin lid. There is a knob in the center of the back, and above and below it can be seen the iconography of a tortoiseshell mirror that can be seen in Japanese mirrors. There are other patterns centering on the sawtooth pattern, and it is a bronze mirror like no other. The surface is smooth and polished, and it is believed to have been made by a Japanese mirror craftsman.
A sword measuring 237 cm long (7 feet 9 inches) has been discovered during an archaeological dig in Nara City. It is believed to be the largest iron sword ever found in Japan.
Archaeologists made the discovery during excavations at the Tomio Maruyama Burial Mound, which dates to the fourth century CE. They also found a tortoiseshell-shaped copper mirror.
In a report released by Nara City authorities, they explain the serpentine sword is about 6 cm wide and has a meandering shape. Remains of a scabbard were also found. Overall, it is believed that the sword was originally 267 cm (8 feet 9 inches) long.
They also described the second object:
The tortoiseshell-shaped copper mirror was about 64 cm long and about 31 cm wide, and was leaning diagonally to match the shape of the clay that covered the coffin lid. There is a knob in the center of the back, and above and below it can be seen the iconography of a tortoiseshell mirror that can be seen in Japanese mirrors. There are other patterns centering on the sawtooth pattern, and it is a bronze mirror like no other. The surface is smooth and polished, and it is believed to have been made by a Japanese mirror craftsman.
You can read more about the find from Lessons in History.
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