Sword of Goujian

Discovered in Hubei, China, in 1965, the sword is famous for being incredibly sharp and pristine despite being over 2,000 years old. It was found in a waterlogged tomb and drew attention because it reportedly cut an archaeologist's finger upon being unsheathed.

The blade features eight characters in ancient bird-worm seal script that translate to "The Sword belongs to the King of Yue, Goujian." This directly identified the artifact as belonging to the famous ruler who survived captivity to conquer the State of Wu.

The sword's incredible preservation is largely attributed to its airtight, chemically balanced scabbard and the specific composition of its bronze alloy. The blade contains copper, tin, and small amounts of lead, iron, and sulfur, which helped prevent oxidation inside the tomb in Hubei.

The sword is currently housed in the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, China. It is considered a priceless cultural artifact and is strictly controlled, often kept in a controlled environment for preservation.