Duan Jian

Dated: ca. 4th–1st century B.C.

Location: Eastern Central Asia

Materials: Steel, Bronze, and Gold

Dimensions: L. 26 3/8 in. (67 cm)

Swords similar to this one have been found in Yunan in southwestern China and in Ningxia in the northwest. The Ningxia finds also include many other examples of similarly advanced metalworking, suggesting that this sword may have originated in that region, perhaps around the time of the late Warring States period.

Source: www.metmuseum.org/