Overview
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Part of an arrow. The wooden shaft is painted black at the end where a leaf-shaped sheet of bronze is inserted through the shaft, taking the place of feathers. At each end of the sheet, the arrow is bound tightly with grass fibre to hold the sheet in place. The other end of the shaft is split and bound with grass fibres, too and still holds the iron tang of the arrow-head.
Date
750 to 860
Find site
Measurement
height 26 centimetres, width 2.8 centimetres
Description
Scope and content : Part of an arrow. The wooden shaft is painted black at the end where a leaf-shaped sheet of bronze is inserted through the shaft, taking the place of feathers. At each end of the sheet, the arrow is bound tightly with grass fibre to hold the sheet in place. The other end of the shaft is split and bound with grass fibres, too and still holds the iron tang of the arrow-head.
Institution
Historical information
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Find site identifier
MazTa.
Stein site number
M.Tagh.b.007
Find site description
The Tibetan army built this fort when they occupied the area in the mid-8th century AD. On top of a hill overlooking the Khotan River in otherwise flat land it is in a excellent strategic position, controlling the route from Khotan to the south to the kingdoms of the northern Tarim. Many of the Tibetan woodslips and other items which survived from Tibetan times were discovered among the piles of rubbish from the stable block which still cover the slope below the fort. There is a small shrine next to the fort, hence the name Mazar-tagh or 'Hill of the shrine'.
Short description : A military fort from the Tibetan period.
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The British Museum Reproduced by kind permission of the Trustees of the British Museum