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Arrowheads from the Darband Wall microregion, southern Uzbekistan: first results

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2023

Abstract

The activities of the Czech-Uzbekistani archaeological expedition of the last several years focusing on the sites of the Hellenistic and transitional (aka Yuezhi) period in the Kugitang and Baysuntau piedmonts has brought to light a considerable number of metallic finds mainly thanks to the systematic use of metal detectors both during excavations and - mainly - during extensive surface surveys. Among the artefacts of non-monetary character, arrowheads represent the most numerous and at the same time the most typologically varied and most widespread category with the greatest interpretative potential.

Even though the full evaluation will only be possible based on the entire material assemblage, the arrowheads - numerous and varied as they are - provide by themselves a valuable insight into the sites' history. For this reason, we present here some first thoughts based on this specific group of material.

We analyse 129 arrowheads, including 115 copper alloy ones of seven different types. Many of them are generally believed to be of early (Achaemenid) types.