03-26-2015, 07:16 PM
It's always amused me that historians continuously define the "Silk Road" as beginning in the Han Dynasty. I have always felt it's much older, and that it first extended across the steppe by what is known as the "northern route." Recently, the Houston Museum of Natural Science acquired an interesting sword found in Ukraine. Here are the photos:
[attachment=12080]ZhouswordfoundinUkraine.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=12081]UkraineZhousword.jpg[/attachment]
This style of bronze sword was common among the elite of late Zhou China. It was short, only about 55 to 70 cm, and popular into the early Warring States period and no longer (or shorter) than the contemporaneous Scythian version. In other words, it can be dated from 600 to 300 BC. How did the sword get from China to Ukraine? I would guess it arrived along the Silk Road. :whistle:
[attachment=12080]ZhouswordfoundinUkraine.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=12081]UkraineZhousword.jpg[/attachment]
This style of bronze sword was common among the elite of late Zhou China. It was short, only about 55 to 70 cm, and popular into the early Warring States period and no longer (or shorter) than the contemporaneous Scythian version. In other words, it can be dated from 600 to 300 BC. How did the sword get from China to Ukraine? I would guess it arrived along the Silk Road. :whistle:
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
