About the Object: An authentic Near Eastern bronze arrowhead – a valuable artifact of prehistoric warfare and metallurgy, dating back to the 2nd–1st millennium B.C. This 85 mm long weapon element reflects the technological breakthrough of the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age in the territories of ancient Persia and surrounding regions. The specimen features a stable, good state of preservation with a natural mineral patina and a transparent, documented provenance from old UK private collections.
Technical Information:
The height (length) is 85 mm.
The width is 16 mm.
The origin is Near East (Near Eastern).
The period and epoch are 2nd–1st millennium B.C. (Bronze / Iron Age).
The cultural context is the Near Eastern region, associated with the area of Elam and neighboring civilizations. The material is bronze.
The condition is good (Good condition) – the arrowhead has retained its original structural form; the surface is covered with an authentic greenish-gray mineral patina formed over millennia, bearing witness to a long deposition in a controlled sedimentary environment.
The provenance indicates that it originates from an English private collection, accumulated between 1980–1990, acquired by the previous owner on the UK antique market around 1990, and recorded in the current collection in 2024.
Artistic and Structural Analysis: This military artifact demonstrates a classic lanceolate (laurel-leaf) shape, which was designed to ensure maximum aerodynamic properties and high piercing power. The profile of the tip features a subtle central ridge, providing the thin casting with additional structural stiffness upon impact. The lower part gracefully tapers into a long tang (socket), intended for attachment to a wooden or reed arrow shaft. The surface texture is naturally rough, scattered with copper carbonate crystallization marks, which create a unique antique frame aesthetic highly valued among antique weapon enthusiasts.
Historical and Geographical Context: In the 2nd–1st millennium B.C., the Near East was the epicenter of dynamic empires and intense military conflicts. One of the most important political entities in this region was the Elamite culture (flourishing from approximately 2700 B.C. to 640 B.C. in the territory of modern-day Iran). Due to its strategically favorable geographical location along the Persian Gulf, Elam was a major trade hub connecting routes between Asia and the Middle East; hence, local communities possessed great wealth and advanced metal casting technologies. This type of bronze arrowhead was widely used by professional archer units, who formed the elite of the Elamite, Babylonian, and Assyrian armies, and is mentioned in numerous historical and biblical sources.
Collection and Investment Significance: The market value of this antique bronze arrowhead is defined by its historical age and the good preservation of its anatomical proportions – intact weapon elements without broken tips or deep fractures always maintain stable demand. The legal provenance factor is also critical, as its registration on the UK market in the 1990s guarantees full security of ownership under international conventions. The value is further enhanced by an official certificate of authenticity and the seller's charitable practice, where a portion of the profit is donated to charities, giving the purchase an additional social status. Due to its compact dimensions, deep patina, and accessibility, this millennia-old weapon will make an excellent starting piece in archaeological collections of ancient civilizations or a solid historical accent in an interior.
This approximately three-thousand-year-old masterpiece of the Ancient East is an authentic document of Bronze Age military history, harmoniously combining technical functionality, natural mineral beauty, and long-term collectible potential.
