Photo/Illutration Mirror fragments found at the Sakurai Chausuyama burial mound are shown on top of an image of a triangular-rimmed mirror with gods and animals, which was unearthed from another tumulus, at the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, on Sept. 7. By superposing the mirrors, it is clear the artifacts are identical in shape and pattern. (Kenji Shimizu)

KASHIHARA, Nara Prefecture--Archaeologists were stunned by the sheer number of bronze mirrors among grave goods at a large keyhole-shaped burial mound here, more than 100 in all, a record.

The Sakurai Chausuyama tumulus in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, dates from around the late third century. The site, 204 meters in length, is designated as a “historic site” by the central government.

The scale of the finds indicates the occupant of the tomb wielded immense power and perhaps had royal status, experts say.

The finds turned up an array of mirrors, including what are known as “Himiko’s mirrors” that have a triangular rim and are adorned with images of gods and animals, according to the prefecture-run Archaeological Institute of Kashihara here.

Himiko is the name of a queen in early third-century Japan, according to ancient Chinese history texts.

The Sakurai Chausuyama burial mound, which some assume to be a royal tomb from an early period of the ancient Yamato State, has yielded a total of 385 bronze mirror fragments during excavations over the years.

In 2010, the prefectural archaeological institute released the results of a study that attributed the finds to 81 bronze mirrors, in excess of the 40 mirrors, then a record, found at Tomb No. 1 of the Hirabaru archaeological site in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture.

As some of the fragments remained unidentified, a group of researchers re-examined the finds from the Sakurai tomb.

Three-dimensional measurements and comparisons with bronze mirrors unearthed elsewhere in Japan as well as overseas indicated the finds are equivalent to at least 103 bronze mirrors, setting a new Japan record, officials said Sept. 7.

The mirrors are of 14 types and comprise 26 triangular-rimmed mirrors carrying images of gods and animals, 56 China-made mirrors in 10 designs and 21 Japan-made mirrors of three varieties.

Many of them--with the majority having come from China--are large and decorated with elaborate patterns, the officials added.

“The finding shows the central power of the kingdom was more powerful than we might ever have imagined,” said Shinya Fukunaga, an Osaka University professor of archaeology who is an expert on bronze mirrors. “It could change our understanding of the political structure of the Yamato State.”

The latest research results will be presented at Tokyo’s Yurakucho Asahi Hall on Oct. 8. Call the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara (0744-24-1101) for more details.

(This article was written by Kenji Shimizu and Kunihiko Imai.)

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