96
107
348
99
105
82
90
86
116
141
135
143
68
146
332
62
76
83
354
139
77
103
137
142
147
140
63
117
94
125
69
70
92
71
67
78
145
136
128
111
131
343
75
110
106
89
132
88
108
134
118
87
322
119
100
126
95
122
133
79
382
113
127
85
91
72
130
129
121
65
84
228
229
73
314
315
124
81
120
101
123
138
115
93
385
112
Bronze Ko (1920.67.1)
ChinaBronze Ko from China, Asia. Thought to have been collected by S. Wakefield. Given to the Museum in 1920.
Ko are unique to China. The name translates as 'dagger-halberd'. They were the principal weapons of war during the Shang period (1500-1027 BC) and this example dates to the end of this period. It would have been hafted onto a long, wooden shaft although these almost never survive in the archaeological record.
More ornate ko were placed in royal tombs and during the later Zhou period (1045-256 BC), they were used to perform official sacrifices to maintain the favour of the gods of war.