A remarkable collection of ancient swords uncovered at the Arslantepe archaeological site in Turkey is believed to include some of the earliest known swords in human history.

Dating back approximately 5,000 years to the Early Bronze Age, these arsenic-copper weapons were part of a cache of nine swords and daggers found at the Arslantepe mound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Malatya, eastern Turkey.

Their discovery provides critical insight into the early development of metallurgy and the emergence of complex societies in the ancient Near East. © Ancient Origins