Research uncovers evidence that ancient Japan was ‘more cosmopolitan’ than previously thought
Research uncovers evidence that ancient Japan was ‘more cosmopolitan’ than previously thought
AFP-JIJI
Oct 5, 2016
Ancient Japan may have been far more cosmopolitan than previously thought, archaeologists said Wednesday, pointing to fresh evidence of a Persian official working in the former capital of Nara more than 1,000 years ago.
Present-day Iran and Japan were known to have had direct trade links since at least the 7th century, but new testing on a piece of wood — first discovered in the sixties — suggest broader ties, the researchers said.
Infrared imaging revealed previously unreadable characters on the wood — a standard writing surface in Japan before paper — that named a Persian official living in the country.
The official worked at an academy where government officials were trained, said Akihiro Watanabe, a researcher at the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
More:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/10/05/national/history/research-uncovers-evidence-ancient-japan-cosmopolitan-previously-thought/#.V_UeZkkVCwk
