Western Asiatic Bronze Large Sword Blade

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Title

Western Asiatic Bronze Large Sword Blade

Description

Very large bronze sword blade. The blade is wide, with a sturdy tang, and tapers into a long triangular shape with a low ridge down its length. One rivet hole at the end of tang. Original lenght over 60 cm.

Catalogue Number

443999643

Category

Swords & Daggers

Period

1600--1100 BCE

Culture

Luristan, Assyrian, Babylonian, Near Eastern

Material

Bronze

Dimensions and weight

L: 522, weight 289 g

Reference Items

Dr Khorasani classifies this blade as a Type VI spearhead (Cat. 273) Moshtagh Khorasani, M. (2006). Arms and armor from Iran: The Bronze Age to the end of the Qajar period. Legat Verlag., p. 627. Specimen described by Dr Khorasani is 35,5 cm long, width at forte 32 mm, weight 210 g, smaller, with slightly less squared shoulder, attributed to Marlik/Gabur Heshlag, Marlik Royal cemetery, 14th-10th C. BCE. National Museum of Iran No 8312.

Historical Significance

Bronze swords represent the pinnacle of pre-iron weapon technology. Casting a long blade required precise control of the copper-tin alloy ratio (typically ~10% tin), mould design, and cooling rate. This metallurgical knowledge, developed over centuries of empirical practice, represents one of the great achievements of ancient technology.

Curator Rating

4

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