Luristan Bronze Arrowheads

Ancient Near East, Luristan (Lorestan), c. 1200–800 BC, Northwestern Iran

A nice pair of ancient copper-alloy arrowheads of characteristic Luristan form. Each is crafted from a thin sheet of bronze, featuring a broad deltoid blade with sharply defined barbs and a slender flat tang. The tangs remain intact and would originally have been secured into wooden shafts to form complete arrows. Both arrowheads display an attractive pale green patina with areas of verdigris and earthy encrustation, the surfaces bearing the unmistakable evidence of centuries spent beneath the ground.

These weapons originate from the renowned bronze-working tradition of Luristan, a mountainous region in present-day western Iran celebrated for its exceptional metal craftsmanship during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages. The region was inhabited by a succession of tribal peoples, including communities linked to the Kassites, Medes, and later the Persians. Their semi-nomadic lifestyle fostered the production of practical, lightweight equipment, while their metallurgical expertise resulted in weapons and ornaments of remarkable quality and refinement.

Arrowheads of this type were valued for their efficient and functional design. The broad barbed blades maximised the effectiveness of each shot, while the flat tangs provided a secure attachment to wooden shafts. Suitable for both hunting and warfare, such projectiles formed an essential part of the armament carried by ancient warriors throughout the Iranian plateau. Many examples have also been recovered from funerary contexts, reflecting the importance of weapons not only in life but also within burial traditions and beliefs surrounding the afterlife.

Elegant in their simplicity and expertly made, these arrowheads are excellent representatives of the celebrated Luristan bronze tradition. They offer a tangible connection to the martial culture and sophisticated metalworking achievements of the ancient Near East, making them highly desirable examples of early Iranian weaponry.

Good condition. Chips on edges. Heavy surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use, with encrusted green patina. Size approx. 8,9cm x 1,1cm x 0,3cm and 7,6cm x 1,3cm x 0,3cm. Sell as a set.

Provenance: Swedish private collection.

For a similar examples see: 

Arrow-head, The British Museum, Accession Number: 128697 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1936-0613-82)

References and further reading:

Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oscar White Muscarella, New York 1988, pp. 289-92

Bronzes of Luristan, Oscar White Muscarella, Encyclopedia Iranica, 1989 (https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bronzes-of-luristan)

Luristan Bronze, Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 May. 2018 (https://www.britannica.com/art/Luristan-Bronze)

Luristan bronzes i, the Field Research, Bruno Overlaet, Encyclopedia Iranica, 2006 (https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/luristan-bronzes-i-the-field-research-)