Late 2nd-1st millennium BC. A bronze dagger blade with prominently curved guard, which extends out from the ricasso of the blade and partly frames the hilt, thick midrib extending slightly above the ricasso where it held the hilt. See similar swords in Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.99-100. 558 grams, 50cm (19 3/4"). Property of a London gallery; previously in a private UK collection formed 1980s-1990s. The hilt of such swords was made separately, and unfortunately is nearly always missing from the archaeological records. Similar daggers had a northern Iranian background and excavated examples have been recorded from the South Caspian Area from Tomadjan and Ghalekuti. Condition Report Fine condition.