Luristan Bronze Socketted Spearhead

Piriform in profile with drilled socket expanding towards the narrower end. 404 grams, 76 mm



From the collection of North West London, UK, gentleman, early 2000s.

Comprising tanged arrowheads, having large, elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, rectangular section stem with handle for the shaft, others with barbed shoulders and convex or squared sides. 248 grams total, 5-11.8 cm



Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

These arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A and C, according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran, individuated by Negahban, subtypes A and C of type V are larger arrowheads with barbed shoulders and triangular heads. These types of arrowheads were commonly used in Anatolia and Mesopotamia from the 2nd millennium B.C., but apparently their employment began earlier in this area, where types like these occur alongside the non-barbed, predominantly ribbed and tanged types.

Piriform, undecorated body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 455 grams, 15 cm



From a specialist collection, London, UK, 1990-2000s. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια, where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.