Scientists have discovered a bunch of ancient Roman and Ottoman coins from the ruins of an old castle in Japan, a finding which could help better understand historical trade routes and relations in Asia.
Japanese ceramics and objects, as well as Chinese coins and ceramics that would have be acquired through trade with China were also found at the site. Since 2013, archaeologists from Uruma Board of Education in Japan have been excavating the Katsuren castle — a UNESCO world heritage site located in Okinawa.
The ancient coins — ten in total — were discovered spotted by Toshio Tsukamoto, a researcher from Gangoji temple cultural properties department. Using X-ray technology, Hiroyuki Miyagi of Okinawa University found the Ottoman coin had inscriptions that dated it to 1687, while the Roman coins appeared to be much older — from at least 300 to 400 AD.