The History Blog and Japanese Saws

Liked Oldest iron saw in Japan identified by livius (The History Blog) An iron object bent over on one side has been identified as an ancient saw. Dating to the late Yayoi period, the late 2nd century A.D., it is the oldest found in Japan, pushing back the introduction of saws to the Japanese archipelago a hundred years. I follow The History Blog by psuedynmous blogger livius. It features blog posts about history (surprise?) focusing significantly on archaeology news. Significantly, The History Blog links to sources. Take for example a June 6, 2026 blog post titled Oldest iron saw in Japan identified. The post summarizes a linked Asahi Shimbun report on what appears to be a saw found in Japan dating back to the second century A.D. Significance of the find other than its age: Iron was not yet produced on the Japanese islands during the Yayoi period, and the advanced techniques necessary to manufacture a saw like this indicates it was made elsewhere, namely China, and imported to Japan.…