Local media recently reported that a large shield-shaped bronze mirror and an iron sword over 2m tall that had never been seen before were found in an ancient tomb in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, which was the center of ancient Japan.
According to the report, the Nara Prefectural Research Institute of Kashiha Archeology and the Nara City Board of Education have found a shield-shaped bronze mirror 64 cm high and 31 cm wide and a serpentine 2.37 m long at the Tomio Maruyama Tumulus, which is estimated to have been built in the late 4th century. announced the discovery of the sword.
Tomio Maruyama Tumulus is a round tomb with a diameter of 109 m. The two artifacts discovered this time were made from clay covering a wooden coffin about 5 m in length placed in the northeast of the tomb.
Ancient bronze mirrors are usually circular in shape, but the bronze mirror excavated this time is characterized by its 'shield' shape.
The surface of the mirror also has a raised handle along with elaborate patterns.
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
The Asahi Shimbun said, "The area of the bronze mirror is larger than that of the excavated items from the Fukuoka ruins, which are said to be the largest in Japan," and "Experts evaluated it as a masterpiece of ancient Japanese bronze crafts."
The large snake-shaped sword found with the bronze mirror is called 'Sagok Sword' (蛇曲劍) or 'Sahaenggeom' (蛇行劍), and has also been excavated from ancient tombs in Korea.
The Mainichi Shimbun said, "About 85 Sagok swords have been discovered in Japan, and 4 pieces have also been excavated in Korea."
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
The Kashira Archaeological Research Institute, which conducted the excavation of the tomb, plans to further investigate the inside of the wooden coffin, which appears to be well-preserved and has not been robbed, after next year.