On Tue, 10 Oct 2000, Michal Milewski wrote:
> So, my question is: When, where and by whom were the iron
> swords used first time on a mass scale?
There have been some recent archeological studies relevant to this issue.
Robert Drews, in _The End of the Bronze Age_, pp. 75-76, gives some
information (and references) about the physical evidence for the spread
of iron. In particular there was a study of weapons finds throughout
the near east.
12th century BC 96+ % Bronze 3+ % Iron
11th century BC 80 % Bronze 20 % Iron
10th century BC 46 % Bronze 54 % Iron
He also cites a study indicating that iron weapons were not common in
12th century BC Greece.
The implication seems to be that while there was some early knowledge of
iron working, its extensive use for military purposes came about well
after the fall of the Hittite Empire and the Mycenaean palaces.
Glenn McDavid
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