Bronze mirror still shiny after 1,900 years underground
A bronze mirror from the Later Han Dynasty is so well preserved that it can still reflect a person's image after 1,900 years.
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1,900-year-old bronze mirror. Photo:AFP. |
The bronze mirror, measuring 11.3 cm in diameter, was excavated in April at the Nakashima archaeological site in Fukuoka City, Japan.International Business TimesAccording to city authorities, the artifact was crafted during the Later Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) and is incredibly well preserved.
Bronze mirrors of this age are often cracked or covered in rust, but this one was in such good condition that a faint reflection could still be seen, according to the Asahi Shimbun. Researchers speculate that the humid air around the site may have prevented the mirror from oxidizing.
The mirror is classified as a type of mirror with an arched rim connected by decorative motifs. The team also found an inscription reading "Truong Nghi Tu Ton" which means "children and grandchildren in harmony forever". In addition to the mirror, they also found earthenware from the late Yayoi period (300 BC to 300 AD). The earthenware is currently on display at the Fukuoka City Museum.
Scientists do not know the exact purpose of the ancient mirror, but Hidenori Okamura, professor of archaeology at Kyoto University, speculates that the mirror may have served an ancient religious ritual based on the location where it was found.
