Luristan bronze comes from the province of Lorestan, a region situated in the in the Zagros Mountains. In ancient times a number of nomadic populations settled in the this area. Due to the nomadic nature of the tribes, none of the Luristan bronzes were of great size, since it was required for them to be light and portable. Their artwork mainly comprises ornaments, vessels and weapons. Cast spike-butted axes are hallmarks of Luristan bronze weaponry during the First Iron Age Period, between 1200 and 1000 BC. Most of Luristan bronze items have been recovered in funerary contexts.
Javelins (zubins) are light spears designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon. Historians distinguish between two methods of throwing the javelins. Either they were held horizontally in the middle of the shaft and thrown at the enemy or were held by the butts and thrown. Zubins were used both in hunting and on the battlefield.
To discover more about the Luristan Empire, please visit our relevant blog post: The Luristan Empire: Beauty of Bronze.
