June
23
/ 2025
A breathtaking new analysis of an ancient iron spear unearthed on Okinoshima - Japan's revered "Island of the Gods"- has revealed East Asia's earliest known example of a gold-inlaid weapon. This exquisitely crafted artifact, first discovered in 1954 beneath a sacred boulder near the Okitsu-gū Shinto shrine, is now shedding extraordinary light on the spiritual sophistication and metallurgical expertise of Japan's early Yamato state. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"134172","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"704","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"500"}}]] The artifact with sketch of the patterns inlayed on the spear. ( Preservation and Utilization Council of “Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region”) Unveiling a Sacred Masterpiece Measuring just over 30 centimeters (12 inches) in length, the iron spear had remained sealed in a gilt bronze sheath and largely unstudied
