KASHIHARA, Nara -- A wooden tablet unearthed in 2001 from the ruins of Japan's late seventh to early eighth century capital Fujiwara-kyo here was part of a multiplication table chart used by ...

Some other surprises were also revealed in the large-scale project. Measuring about 60 centimeters by 80 cm, the wooden tablet features a vivid illustration of two men leading a horse on each side.