Two Rare Ancient Long Swords of 6th century found in Japan

Two swords of early sixth-century tomb were found in the Shimauchi district of southern Kyushu in EBINO, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

Two rare and unique swords have been found in a 1,500-year-old underground tunnel tomb designated no. 139 in a burial site, excavated by Ebino education board between 2014 and 2015.

One is the longest sword ever excavated from ancient tombs in Japan, and another's hilt is covered with ray skin, making it the oldest ray-decorated item found in East Asia.

Once retrieved from the tomb, the swords were passed to the Gangoji Institute for Research of Cultural Property in Nara, for scientific analysis and conservation work. The Institute revealed that the long sword had a wooden pommel and a precious textile covering the opening of the scabbard known as tate nishiki, a warp-patterned textile. 

The sword is 142cm long, but would have been about 150cm in its original condition. This is the longest sword ever retrieved from an ancient tomb in Japan. 

According to Heritage of Japan, underground tunnel tombs were a type of burial practice unique to the Kofun period in Japan’s history (250 to 538 AD).  

 

They were either stone-lined chambers in the top of mounds and entered from the top, or they were constructed on the ground under the mound and entered from the side through a tunnel called yokoana chamber. 

The interiors were usually simple, but the individuals buried inside were often found accompanied with precious treasures and grave goods. 

Tatsuya Hashimoto, an associate professor of archaeology at Kagoshima University Museum said that the swords suggest there was a powerful person in southern Kyushu, who would have directly served someone in the upper rank close to the Yamato king, and would have gone overseas in charge of foreign politics.

It appears the swords originated from the ancient Yamato kingdom who rules Japan during the Kofun period (3rd – 7th centuries).