The earliest polished stone tools in the world. Pre-Jomon (Japanese Paleolithic) period, 30,000 BCE.

Incipient Jomon pottery (10,000-8,000 BC), the earliest pottery type in the world.

A Final Jomon statuette (1000-400 BC).

A Yayoi jar, 1st-3rd century, excavated in Kugahara, Ota-Ku, Tokyo.

Horse charriots during the Kofun period. Detail of bronze mirror (5th-6th century). Eta-Funayama Tumulus, Kumamoto.

Iron helmet and armour with gilt bronze decoration, Kofun period, 5th century.

Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century, Japan.

The Buddha, Asuka period, 7th century.

Temple tiles from Nara, 7th century.

Vine and grape scrolls from Nara, 7th century.

One of the first representations of the Buddha, 1st-2nd century CE, Gandhara.

Seated Buddha, Gandhara, 1st-2nd century CE.

Greek scroll supported by Indian Yaksas, Amaravati, 3rd century CE.

Northern Wei Buddha Maitreya, 443 CE.

Tang Dynasty Bodhisattva.

Wooden plate with inscriptions in Tocharian. Kucha, China, 5th-8th century.

A Middle Jomon vessel (3000-2000 BC).

Bodhisattva, Asuka period, 7th century.

Nanbandō, a western-style cuirass, 16th century.

Nakahama Manjiro's report of his travels, 1850s.