Intricate gold inlay found on ritual spear

An X-ray examination of a gilt bronze spear sheath from the Kofun period (300-538 A.D.) of the Yamato kingship in Japan has found that the iron spear inside was inlaid with gold in an intricate pattern. It is the first spear discovered in East Asia with inlaid decoration.

The artifact was discovered under a boulder on the sacred island of Okinoshima in the 1954. The Okitsu-gū Shinto shrine occupies the entire island and from the 4th to the 9th century was dedicated to religious rituals invoking protection of sea deities over maritime voyages of the early imperial governments. The gods were believed to inhabit the giant boulders on the island, and offerings were left there as part of devotional rituals.

The early rituals were performed on top boulders. Between the late 5th century and the 7th century, they moved to the ground under the shade of boulders, which is where the spear sheath was found. More than 80,000 precious artifacts have been discovered on Okinoshima, and they are all designated national treasures.

The Cultural Affairs Agency of Japan is X-raying and analyzing more than 4,200 of the metal artifacts from Okinoshima as part of a preservation initiative. The X-ray of the spear sheath confirmed the presence of inlay on the iron spear still embedded inside the sheath. The exceptional find triggered more detailed imaging and modeling analysis.

The iron spear that remains inside the scabbard is thought to be a triangular-tip iron spear made in the Japanese archipelago between the late 6th and early 7th centuries, with a lineage from the Korean Peninsula. It is completely inlaid, and the pattern is most likely a combination of a modified tortoise-shell and phoenix design and arabesque patterns; there are no other examples of this type either in Japan or abroad, making it an excellent example of the pinnacle of scabbards and spears in East Asia at the time. The structure of the spear is of little practical use, and it is thought to have been a votive item made specifically for the purpose of being offered at the rituals on Okinoshima. This discovery gives us a glimpse into how much importance the Yamato government placed on the rituals on Okinoshima, and is a piece that will shed light on the rituals on Okinoshima.

* This article was originally published here