Heritage crime: With advanced scanning technique, confiscated Iron Age Iranian swords proven to be pastiches

For the first time, an imaging method has been used to investigate Iron Age bronze Iranian swords, revealing significant modern modifications that prove the weapons have been altered to increase their commercial value in the illicit antiquities market.

Early Iron Age Iranian bladed weaponry is crucial in understanding the metalworking technologies in one of the world's heartlands of metallurgical innovation, the ancient Near East. Illicit alteration and forgery of ancient objects complicates efforts to trace the evolution of metalworking techniques at the dawn of the Iron Age, 3,000 years ago.

Reliable identification of these alterations is essential not only for reconstructing ancient technological innovation, it also helps to uncover—and ultimately combat—the hidden practices of the illicit antiquities trade.

The research used neutron tomography to see the internal structure of the objects and detect the use of glue and other modern tools and materials.

The paper, "Neutron tomography reveals extensive modern modification in Iron Ag...," is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Neutron tomography, which uses neutrons rather than photons to create images, is not yet routine practice in archaeological science, but it has some significant advantages over better-known X-ray imaging techniques. It is particularly effective at highlighting organic matter, glues used to modify items, and the structure of materials in the object.

The research focused on a collection of swords recently seized by the UK Border Force and currently held at the British Museum, pending repatriation to Iran.

The research, approved by Iranian authorities, uncovered that the swords had been altered in recent times, with bronze blades replacing original iron blades, creating what is known as "pastiches." These types of objects are assembled from genuine—but fragmentary—ancient artifacts, creating a sort of "Frankenstein's monster" in an attempt to increase their value. In this case, the creation of pastiches masks the authentic bi-metallic nature of the artifacts and the true nature of their construction.

The analysis, conducted at the ISIS Muon and Neutron Source, operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council in Oxfordshire, revealed detailed elements of construction and modification, including the use of glue, that the forgers attempted to hide from unsuspecting buyers.

These included modern drill holes, identified as such by their regular outline and circular cross-section. Bizarrely, one sword even contained a fragment of a modern drill bit still embedded in the weapon.

The research findings show the prevalence and issue of modern tampering in antiquities trafficking, with implications for heritage crime and the authenticity of museum collections worldwide.

The swords, part of a larger trafficked collection, will be repatriated to Iran.

Credit: Journal of Archaeological Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106018

Alex E. Rodzinka et al, Neutron tomography reveals extensive modern modification in Iron Age Iranian swords, Journal of Archaeological Science (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106018