Harpoon head

This harpoon has two pairs of barbs and a pierced lug to bind it to its shaft. The copper was alloyed with arsenic to increase the hardness and ductility. Some authorities doubt whether this harpoon was in fact used, and think that it was purely for ceremonial purposes.

Description taken from the ‘Art From The Indian Sub-Continent In The Sainsbury Centre’ catalogue by Margaret A. Willey (Sainsbury Centre, UEA, 1995).