Luristan bronze comes from the province of Lorestan, a region situated in the south-western area of the Zagros Mountains. The region developed sophisticated and prolific metal-working technology from the 3rd millennium BC, with manufacture not suffering decline until the 7th century BC. Over this extensive period, metalworkers were essential for supplying and arming both local wealthy patrons and the warring factions.
Due to the nomadic nature of the tribes, Luristan bronze creations were often small-scale, since they had to be light and portable. Most of Luristan weapons have been recovered in funerary contexts, suggesting that such weapons would have been used not only in everyday life but also with ceremonial purposes. The Luristan bronzes, remarkable for their beauty and their historical importance, illustrate the connections between the early art and metallic production of various groups in Western Asia.
To learn more about the metalwork of ancient Luristan, visit our relevant blog post: Ancient Luristan and the Luristan Bronzes.
