RARE LARGE ANCIENT COPPER CULTIC RITUAL SWORD FROM THE COPPER HOARD CULTURE OF THE LATE HARAPPAN PERIOD *LUR410

Product Description

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Of maximum size and with exquisite preservation, this large, EXTREMELY RARE ancient copper ritual flat axe comes from the Copper Hoard Culture (part of the Indus Valley Civilization), of the ancient Indo-Gangetic Plain. The Copper Hoard Culture is famous for its unusually large copper tools and weapons such as harpoons, swords, axes and scarce anthropomorphic figures.  Many Copper Hoard Culture flat axes are of the largest proportions of any ancient culture.  Some scientists believe they had ritual cultic purposes but some specimens have been found to have use wear on the edge.  This example does not which leads us to believe its massive size and breadth was more of a ritual object, or possibly for prestige display.  

Gangetic Copper Hoard tools and weapons are extremely scarce on the market.  They are one of the most impressive weapons of any culture of the ancient world.  We have handled thousands of ancient objects of all cultures, over the past 3 decades and yet, this is one of only two flat axes we have personally encountered.  Coming from a very old British private collection, this is an extremely rare culture and specimen for the most advanced collectors.  

This artifact has  been professionally cleaned and conserved in our lab, being treated with a special sealer developed and formulated by us specifically for ancient metal preservation.  The patina shows beautiful traits only found in authentic ancient weapons such as a layered mineralized patina with encrustations.  

WARNING:  There is an increasing number of fake "ancient" metal weapons on the market.  As fine quality intact, original specimens become more scarce and techniques have become more sophisticated to fake these weapons.  We have personally handled numerous extremely well-done fakes with extremely convincing patinas.  The degree to which the fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals.  It is common to find very reasonably priced weapons that are made up of part original and part modern components or wholly modern pieces displaying elaborate artificial patinas.  All purchases should include from the dealer a written guarantee of authenticity with unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee. 

HISTORY

Copper Hoard culture describes find-complexes which mainly occur in the western Ganges–Yamuna doab in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. They occur in hoards large and small, and are dated to the first half of the 2nd millennium BCE, although very few derive from controlled and dateable excavation contexts. The copper hoards are associated with the Ochre Colored Pottery (OCP), which is closely associated with the Late Harappan (or Posturban) phase of the Indus Valley Civilization. Associations with the Indo-Aryan of the second millennium BCE have also been proposed, though association with the Vedic Aryans is problematic, since the hoards are found east of the territory of the Vedic Aryans.

Four regional find-groups are identifiable with their characteristic find-types:  1. Characteristic hoard-finds from South Haryana/North Rajasthan (recorded: 383) include flat axes, harpoons, double axes, swords with so-called antenna grips and others. 2. In the Ganges-Yamuna Doab (235) related types occur. 3. Those from Chota Nagpur differ (235) entirely from these. They include finely worked pieces, and mostly look at first like axe-heads but are probably ingots. 4. Fewer are those known from Madhya Pradesh (120), although originally there were some 424 from the Ghangharia hoard alone.

The copper hoards are associated with the Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP), which is closely associated with the Late Harappan (or Posturban) phase of the IVC. They may also be associated with the Indo-Aryan migrants of the second millennium BCE, or with the BMAC, from where the Indo-Aryans came into India. The association with the Vedic Indo-Aryans is problematic, since the hoards are mostly found east of the territory of the Vedic Indo-Aryans. Falk proposes an association with the middle Vedic period and the realm of the Kuru-Pancalas, who had expanded eastwards. Asko Parpola associates the copper hoards with a first wave of Indo-Iranian migration into the Indian subcontinent, who reached farther east than the later Vedic Aryans.