Kōjindani Site, Archaeological site in Izumo, Japan.
Kōjindani is an archaeological site on a south-facing slope northeast of Mount Bukkyo in Shimane Prefecture, at an elevation of about 22 meters (72 feet). The adjoining museum displays hundreds of bronze swords, bells, and spears from the Yayoi period that were excavated in this area.
Excavations in 1983 uncovered more than 350 bronze swords arranged in four rows with their blade edges facing upward. This discovery doubled the number of known Yayoi swords across Japan and made the site an important witness to that era.
The museum displays replicas and original ceremonial bronze objects that were once buried here, offering insights into the region's early religious practices. Visitors see the finely crafted weapons and bells that were used in rituals and are now considered part of Japan's cultural heritage.
The museum sits in a quiet rural area and is best reached by car or an occasional bus from Izumo. A short walk through the exhibition takes about half an hour and conveys the importance of the finds.
The swords were arranged with their tips alternating east and west, a pattern that researchers still try to interpret. This unusual arrangement suggests a complex ritual whose full meaning remains hidden.
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