Via the inimitable Tango01 at TMP:
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com.ar/2014/06/harappan-style-burial-found-in-oman.html (http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com.ar/2014/06/harappan-style-burial-found-in-oman.html)
QuoteDuring an excavation, archaeologists have found the tomb of a man who was buried with sword and daggers made of iron and steel...
Al Bakri has said that a 2,300- year-old underground chamber was found during rescue excavations 22km south of Sinaw. This was the burial chamber of a man in his 50's, buried along with his personal arms. Near his grave, two male and female camels were also buried. They were slaughtered after the death of the man. The walls of the graves of these camels were erected with stones.
He said that the man was buried separately, on the right side of the camels' graves, with his 88cm sword in front of him. In addition, two daggers were tied on the right and left sides of his waist. A robe and woollen cap was also buried along with him. According to the descriptions provided by the archaeologists, the sword and daggers were made of iron and steel which was first made in the Indian civilisation from where it spread to the neighbouring civilisations, including Oman, said Al Bakri.
He said that the sword was kept in front of the man as the handle of the sword was facing him. Its handle was partly covered with textured ivory shaped like an eagle's beak. It is believed that the man was a chieftain of a tribe, as is evident from the sword and the robe. He was buried as his head was on a pillow and his hat was kept near his head. He was wearing leather shoes.
Fascinating stuff, and somehow touching, giving him a pillow
Jim
Please do not encourage tango to get involved here .
As far as I know, he's not a Society member. Just giving credit where it's due.
A possible comparison with the Sinaw sword, 88 cm long and with its hilt "shaped like an eagle's beak", is the Samad ash-Shan sword illustrated here (https://www.academia.edu/1043405/Paul_Yule_Gerd_Weisgerber_Samad_ash-Shan_1988_Preliminary_Report_Bochum_1988_53_pages_15_plates) and here (https://www.academia.edu/1903706/Potts_1998_Some_issues_in_the_study_of_the_pre-Islamic_weaponry_of_southeastern_Arabia). This is 67.5 cm long, and probably several centuries more recent, but also has a rather "eagle-beak-shaped" hilt.