Bronzes from Kojindani

Kojindani, Izumo

358 bronze swords, 6 bells, and 16 spearheads were found here in 1983. They are dated to the Yayoi period, and collectively designated as a National Treasure of Japan. The edges of the swords were found to be blunt - not just from age, but because they were never sharpened, from which most archaeologists conclude that these were ceremonial objects.