My main collecting area is the Roman Republican coin series. I have expanded my interests to cast bronze from Italy. Most of my collection can be found in Crawford's RRC or Vecchi's ICC. The following item fits the bronze list but is from a location I had to google to find on a map. Lurista, ca. 1000 BC. (an early Iron Age Province in west-central Iran) Very heavy bronze penannular bracelet or armlet with ends. These heavy bracelets also served as an early trade item. 4" dia. Choice. The weight is over my 150 gram scale. the vendor's pic I asked the dealer for references on the use of these as trade items: "he suggested two books that talk on this issue. Money - a history by C. Eagleton & J. Williams (published by the British Museum) - This book has a general discussion of pre-coin trade and the use of metal in various forms. Chalkous for Everyday Dealing by Penna Vassiliki" I have not found either book. I have found several references on line. One of these is a free download: file:///C:/Users/Gene/Downloads/Bronze_and_Iron_Ancient_Near_Eastern_Artifacts_in_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art.pdf Post anything Lirustanian or anything close.
"Luristan" was either the largest metal factory the world has ever seen, or simply what they attribute every metal thing made before a certain age. I think it was because they had excavations there, and published. However, any "luristan" attribution I would take as meaning, "not sure where made or found, but older middle east to asian derivation".
I've seen the type before, but I sold off many of my antiquity references (I had more than I do for coins). Its not in the few I kept, though many of those focus on the decorative types. I had that download you mentioned, but cant find it. I believe Google Books has a few on Luristan. Those rings you have are likely from straps and horse harnesses, buts, etc. This is partly true, in both ways you mention. Many who dont specialize cant tell the difference from Luristan, Marlik, Amlash, etc, and for that matter Bactrian types (which closely resemble these types). Your comment is also true in that yes, Luristan was a major metal manufactory, and many types were indeed exported as trade goods. Also true in that there are some incredible references published, but they are expensive and usually more money than the artifacts themselves which is why most cant tell the difference. They are hard to find. Anyway, I will shoot some pics and post them of some things I have. Always like to share with antiquities!
Ken, Nice pieces and a great case of books! My wife knits and I have looked for ancient knitting needles, but have not seen anything advertised as such. (I am glad she looks down her nose at crochet because it was invented in the 1800s and is not ancient.) I have purchased some spinning whorls, from you, a while back. She said that is interesting, but I am not into spinning yarn. I have bought a few sheep / yarn coins and tokens (including one from a JA auction). She likes those better. I have seen plenty of long skinny items on auctions, but they are advertised as medical instruments of needles. Have you seen anything listed as knitting needles? Should I keep looking, or just buy something advertised as a medical instrument and tell her it is an oooooooold needle? The oldest knitted artifacts are socks from Egypt, dating from the 11th century CE. They are a very fine gauge, done with complex colorwork and some have a short row heel, which necessitates the purl stitch. These complexities suggest that knitting is even older than the archeological record can prove. http://www.cambridgepatchwork.co.uk/2016/01/the-history-of-knitting-part-1.html
Many years ago I bought a collection of copper Roman needles. They are out there, but are small items that most likely wouldnt care to offer. I remember the ones I had were rather 'beefy', about 6 inches, maybe for sails, nets, or other bigger jobs. Anyway, you may want to check with Bob Reis of anythinganywhere.com His site is hard to navigate and most isnt illustrated, so I would send him an e-mail.
