arrowheadsbronze

Bronze arrowheads are small projectile points produced from bronze, the copper-tin (or occasionally copper-arsenic) alloy used during the Bronze Age. Bronze offered greater hardness and edge retention than pure copper, enabling more reliable and effective arrowheads for hunting and warfare. The forms vary by region, but common types include simple tangs designed to be hafted into a shaft, leaf-shaped or lanceolate points, and, in some areas, barbed or socketed varieties. The tang or socket is typically reinforced where it joins the blade to withstand impact.

Manufacture usually involved casting the point in a mold, using methods such as lost-wax casting or direct casting, followed by trimming, grinding, and sharpening. Some smaller or more specialized points were produced by hammering preforms or shaping sheet bronze. Finishing processes could produce a range of edge geometries, from thin, keen edges to more robust, blunt tips for different hunting or combat needs.

Bronze arrowheads were widespread across the European and Near Eastern Bronze Age and into parts of Asia, reflecting regional metallurgical traditions and long-distance exchange networks for tin and other alloying components. Over time, iron gradually supplanted bronze for most arrowheads, but bronze examples continued in ceremonial contexts or in regions where bronze-making traditions persisted longer.

In archaeology, bronze arrowheads help researchers study technological choices, trade routes for tin and copper, regional weapon styles, and the chronology of sites. They also illuminate the adoption and adaptation of bow-based warfare across diverse cultures.