The above ilems are mainly of bronze, and Roman (or pre Roman ) origin. The top right one is a multi tool, i.e. a bronze spoon and two iron bladed knives.
The above photo, and the two below photos show the same tool. The central part is of bronze, and in the shape of a lioness's body. The hinged forward part is a bronze spoon, with the bowl of roughly tea spoon size.
Both knife blades are iron and rather corroded. It is a multi purpose tool, probably built for use by a lady when travelling (or possibly for a rather effete young man. The fact that it is mainly of bronze, but with the two knife blades of iron, might well indicate that it was made in the early iron age. It is a well thought out, and indeed, a well made, little tool.
Hope this helps. More text tomorrow. |Actually-the more next; is now written above.
9 comments:
Thank you, that's almost as good as holding it in my hands ;)
Thank you for the detailed description. The only problem is that now I would like more details about the other items please.
The bronze cup was made in Luristan (roughly where Persia is now)) and about two and a half thousand years ago.
Really? You wouldn't be trying to lure me about Luristan?
No, Stan. Would I try and lure you.
Lorestan Province, Persian, استان لرستان (also written Luristan, Lurestan, or Loristan) is a province of western Iran in the Zagros Mountains. The population of Lorestan, known as Lurs, was estimated at 1,716,527 people in 2006. It covers an area of 28,392 square-kilometres.
Thank you, Crowbard. Useful stuff. It seems that the Luristanis had a real head start on bronze manufacture a couple of millenia ago? Any ideas why??
Thank you Crowbard. Useful stuff. It seems that the luristanis had a head start on bronze manufacturers a couple of millenia or so ago. Any idea why?
Yes Mike, they were sitting on piles of copper, tin, arsenic and lead ore. clearly they had fire so smelting may have started accidentally or incidentally. As the ores were somewhat intermingled the range of bronzish alloys they got initially was thought-provoking... they didn't have TVs so any interesting hobby available was always welcome.
I've just e-mailed you a detailed report of the earliest known Luristan copper/tin/lead/arsenic mines. Really quite interesting stuff. Any technical queries you want chasing down (or up) let me know.
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