Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed a rare, 17th-century Japanese samurai sword from the wreckage of a cellar that was destroyed during World War II.
The team discovered the heavily corroded short sword, known as a wakizashi, while excavating Molkenmarkt, Berlin's oldest square. Initially, the archaeologists thought the weapon was a military parade saber, but further analysis revealed the sword was actually from Edo period Japan (1603 to 1868). The weapon's blade might be even older, possibly dating to the 16th century, according to a translated statement from the Museum of Prehistory and Early History of the Berlin State Museums. It may have been brought to Germany in the 1800s as part of a diplomatic mission, archaeologists said.
