14 Archaeology News Stories In 2018 That Will Change History

Rare 12th Century Samurai Sword Found In Attic

TwitterThe kohoki blade pulled from the attic of the Kasuga Taisha shrine.

A rusty blade pulled from an attic decades ago was just revealed to be one of the oldest Japanese samurai swords in existence.

The sword was found covered in rust, in the attic of the Kasuga Taisha shrine in Japan. Though the discovery of the sword actually took place in 1939, it was only this year that the shrine’s officials realized what the blade actually was.

During a ceremony that takes place every 20 years, the officials sharpened the blades to honor the traditional ceremony of shrine building. When the blade was cleaned, the sword was discovered to be from the 12th century, making it one of the oldest in existence.

The 32-inch sword, known as a kohoki, was likely an heirloom sword, made for a samurai and passed down through his family.

The Asahi Shimbun/Getty ImagesThe kohoki blade is believed to be from the 12th century.

Experts believe it was crafted during the Heian Period (794-1185) and given to the shrine as a gift sometime between the Nanboku-cho Period (1336-1392) and the Muromachi Period (1338-1573).

Along with the kohoki, 12 other blades were found in the Kasuga Taisa shrine’s attic, though none as ancient or valuable as the kohoki.

After it was cleaned and examined, the sword was placed on display at the Kasugataisha Museum at the Kasuga Taisha shrine, where it will stay through the end of March — and remain in archaeology news headlines for years to come.

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