**Originally Listed At $400**

Central Asia, Tajikistan, Sugd / Sogdiana (also Sughdha, Sogdia), ca. 8th century BCE. A cast bronze axe head from a little-known ancient culture. The axe has a pleasing asymmetric form when viewed from the side, with a wide blade edge, a narrow region where it meets the socket, and another widening to accommodate the socket. The exterior of the socket is decorated with incised striations that form a cross shape around a bulbous projection on its back. Sugd centered on the city of Samarkand, and lay in the culturally fertile region that fostered trading relationships with Luristan, Bactria, Khwarezm, and China. Some of its most famous Bronze Age archaeological sites are Sarazm, in Tajikistan, and a mound near Bulunger, Uzbekistan. A weapon like this one was probably made to be buried with a warrior. Size: 4" L x 1.1" W x 2.6" H (10.2 cm x 2.8 cm x 6.6 cm)

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection

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#122871

Dark patina that in some places has been scraped off, leading to light surface scratching. Blade edge is worn. Light encrustation and pitting on the surface.