[John C. Dos Santos]

Hello again,

Is there a good resource for information on the swords used in the area we call Israel during the late Bronze and early Iron Ages? (About the time of the reign of David?)

If anyone can share information I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
John

[Sean Manning]

Have you started with The End of the Bronze Age by Robert Drews? The books you want with measurements and drawings of the iron (steel) Naue IIs will probably start at $100 unless Israel has a strong open access policy.

[Carl W.]

Your question triggered a vague recollection of an old National Geographic article about a shipwreck find. Web search now came up with the Uluburun shipwreck which included a Canaanite sword, & it sounds like what I recalled. My recollection (fwiw) is that sword looked more or less intact/complete, including hilt (amazing given age & u/w). Brief web search for that wreck & canaanite sword found some images but not clearly labeled as to source.

[Dan Howard]

The Ulu Burun wreck is dated to the 14th C. Warfare changed a lot between that time and the alleged time of David. By that time there were no Canaan-type swords because everyone was using the same swords. Pick any sword from that time period in the Aegean or Middle East and you can be pretty sure that the Canaanites were using it too. If you want a safe option then choose a Naue II. Everyone used that during this time, from the Middle East to Italy to the Balkans.