Bronze bells from the Kamo-Iwakura site

National treasures. In 1996, during the construction of a road, 39 dotaku or bronze bell-shaped vessels were excavated, which is the highest number for such a find in Japan. The dotaku were buried on their sides. Their Hire, which run along both sides of the body of the dotaku, were thus pointing upwards and downwards. Dotaku made from the same mold have turned up in many parts of western Japan including the Kinki region and Shikoku. The number of the dotaku was as many as 15 sets, or 26 dotaku. This is a very important discovery to help us understand the level and kind of contact with other regions at that time. Also, some dotaku have designs that haven’t been seen before, which means the production of these Kamo Iwakura dotaku are deeply associated with the people of ancient Izumo.