26th-23rd century BC. A bronze socketted pickaxe with trapezoidal-section blade. See a similar (but with hexagonal blade) pickaxe in Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.388-389, no.513. 372 grams, 14.5cm (5 3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired on the UK art market; previously in a UK private collection before 2000. Calmeyer listed many similar examples as coming from Luristan, although various other examples came from Elam (Susa) and even from underground burials in Syria. [No Reserve] Condition Report Fine condition.