Photo/Illutration A dragon motif originally part of a piece of armor was discovered at an archaeological site in Gunma Prefecture and dates to the fifth century. (Provided by the Meiji University Museum)

Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking leap in identifying a set of gilt‑bronze armor fittings adorned with an intricate dragon design that are believed to date to the fifth century.

The seven fragments, discovered in a “kofun” burial mound in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, are being hailed as artifacts of extraordinary craftsmanship, according to the Meiji University Museum. 

Two experts say they are comparable, perhaps even connected, to the famed saddle fittings from the Konda-Maruyama kofun in Osaka Prefecture with national treasure status.

The museum purchased the fragments from a Tokyo art dealer in December 2024.

When reconstructed, it measures approximately 35 centimeters in length and 22 cm in width. The design consists of a gilt-bronze plate with an openwork dragon motif riveted onto iron backing.

Its shape suggests it was attached to the neck guard of a piece of armor. Experts note that no other decorated neck guards of this type have been found in Japan, making the discovery one of the largest examples of dragon-themed ornamentation or armor from the period.

Curator Keizo Kutsuna explained that the dragon imagery closely resembles the motifs on the fifth-century saddle fittings excavated from the Konda-Maruyama site.

Some researchers believe the equestrian equipment may have originated in northeast China or the Korean Peninsula.

“It is possible that both sets of artifacts were produced around the same time by the same craftsmen,” Kutsuna said.

Because the decorative plates added weight to the armor, Kutsuna believes the fittings were not intended for combat. Instead, they likely served as symbols of authority and prestige, emphasizing the wearer’s status rather than battlefield utility.

The fragments were stored in a box bearing a label that indicated they had been discovered at the Watanuki kofun site in Takasaki. The previous owner reported that they were unearthed before World War II.

Researchers are still debating their exact provenance. Possibilities include the 94-meter-long Fudoyama mound or the now-vanished 115-meter-long Iwahana-Futagoyama mound, both part of the Watanuki tumulus cluster.

Scholars have emphasized the significance of the discovery from multiple perspectives.

“If confirmed, the discovery suggests that a powerful local ruler in fifth‑century Gunma possessed gilt‑bronze artifacts of the highest quality in East Asia,” said Toru Wakasa, professor of archaeology at Meiji University.

Professor Tatsuya Hashimoto of Kagoshima University highlighted the rarity of decorated neck guards, explaining that the discovery could reshape long‑standing debates about the production sites of the national treasure saddle fittings.

Meanwhile, Takehiro Hatsumura of the Gangoji Institute for Research of Cultural Property observed that the fittings appear to have been custom‑made to match the shape of the neck guard.

“This suggests they were produced in a Japanese workshop, possibly alongside the similar saddle fittings from the Konda-Maruyama site,” he said.

The fragments are currently on display at the museum in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward as part of an exhibition of its new acquisitions throughout the year.

The exhibition runs until Dec. 22 and admission is free. The museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

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