These magnificent spear heads have a beautiful feather or leaf shaped blade and are of varying sizes. Each blade has a raised central rib, which adds weight and strength to the point. These spear heads are covered in a beautiful deep green and blue patina, and are not only sculpturally beautiful, but also academically interesting.

This beautiful group of bronze spear heads originate from Central Asia, possibly from the Luristan province of Iran. This large region was home to many migrant tribes during the 3rd and 4th millenniums B.C., including the ancient Kassite people who had no Semitic or Indo-European language and originated in the region. During the second millennium B.C., the area was invaded and consequently settled by the Medes people, and following that, by the Persians, one thousand years later. The rich culture and history of the area left behind a fascinating array of artefacts, including many intriguing and unusual bronze objects. Highly skilled metalworking artisans produced some of the finest metal goods of the ancient world, and spurned on by continuous warfare, many fine and inventive weapons, such as these spearheads.

The bronze industry in this region around 950 B.C. was a phenomenon which seems to suddenly end before the beginning of the Achaemenid era, for reasons unknown. Surveys suggest that most settlements in this area were abandoned at the end of the Bronze Age, probably because of a minor climate change that may have resulted in disrupted agriculture, and so although habitation continued it was probably on a more limited scale.

In a society that has left no evidence of written communications, their archaeological record is all the surviving evidence we have to help us build a picture of their lives. Settlement patterns are largely unknown and most likely nomadic. Nothing is known of how tin and copper were obtained, or how payments, transport, design, production and distribution were organized[1], highlighting the importance of artefacts in our understanding of them. If gold and silver were used in the economy, they were not crafted in to objects. Weapons such as these suggest war was a large part of everyday tribal life, but details of whether it was defense or conquest are unknown, only adding to the mystery surrounding the people, and these spearheads. Such weapons have also been found in grave deposits, suggesting warriors would be buried with their most prized arms, along with horse-equipment, vessels and jewelry[2].

[1] E. Haernick and B. Overlaet; Bani Surmah, An Early Bronze Age Graveyard in Pusht-i Kuh, Luristan, Peeters Publishers, 2006, p.2.

[2] B. Overlaet; Early Iron Age in Pusht-i Kuh Luristan (Luristan Excavation Documents IV; Acta Iranica, 40, Troisiéme série, Vol. XXVI), Leuven, 2003.