Record 81 copper mirrors found in ancient tomb

Japanese archaeologists say they have unearthed at least 81 copper mirrors from an ancient burial mound in Sakurai City, near Osaka, the largest-ever single find from one tomb. They say the size of the find indicates it was a ruler who was buried there.

Nara Prefecture's archaeological institute last year began examining the Sakurai Chausu-yama tomb, believed to have been built in the early 4th century. The 200-meter-long key-hole-shaped burial mound was first excavated 60 years ago.

The archaeologists say that they found more than 300 broken pieces of copper mirrors, which were status symbols in Japan's ancient dynasty. They say they confirmed the fragments are those of at least 13 different types of mirrors.
The chief curator at the Chikatsu Asuka Museum in Osaka, Taichiro Shiraishi, says that he was surprised at the number and variety of the mirrors. He says the discovery clearly shows that the tomb was built for the then Japanese ruler.