Selection of Roman Period Iron Arrowheads

From circa 1200 to 700 BC, iron arrowheads developed alongside bronze weapons, eventually replacing them entirely during the Byzantine era. Iron is lighter and stronger than bronze and its greatest advantage was the abundance of iron ore, which allowed for a reduction in production costs. Indeed, the initial development of iron weapons was most likely driven by a decline in the trade of tin, a primary component of bronze. With the shift to iron, weapons and utensils were no longer cast, but individually hammered into shape, which slowed down the production process. This translated to a simplification of arrowheads designs, with simple tanged flat bladed typed or bodkin point which were the most common shapes.