Kinosozan Dotaku Bronze Sword Foundry Site (prefectural historic site)

A bronze bell, a bronze sword, and a bronze halberd were excavated from under the Eboshi Rock, located on the middle slope of Kino-Muneyama, 413 meters above sea level. It is said that these were discovered in 1891 (Meiji 24) by Mitsumachi Jinzaburo of Fukuda, who had a prophecy in a dream. Near the Eboshi Rock, there is a relatively flat granite rock that shows signs of artificial work, and charcoal was said to have been piled up underneath it. It is said that the bronze bell was excavated from there, and the bronze sword and bronze halberd were excavated about 25 cm away. A shallow round-bottomed earthenware was also excavated at this time, but this has not survived. As with Kino-Muneyama, bronze artifacts from the Yayoi period are often discovered buried on hillsides or in the shadows of mountains, intentionally far from settlements. However, it seems that the location was rarely marked by surrounding or covering it with stones, so it is rare for them to be discovered under a standing stone like this. There are various theories as to why they were buried in such a place, but given that they were intentionally buried in what appears to be a sacred area away from everyday life, and that they have been discovered in similar locations across the country, it is possible that they were only temporarily taken out and used for various rituals. Below the site where this was discovered is the flat land of the Fukuda district. Although no ruins have been found, it is likely that there was a settlement here during the Yayoi period. These bronze implements may have been used by the people who lived there for various rituals. Location: Fukuda-cho, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima City Date of designation: March 30, 1956