In recent years a number of finely designed ancient iron daggers or short swords, decorated with human heads or figures of crouching lions, have come from the Near East into various museums. The exact period of these weapons is unknown, and their place of origin is uncertain, though Pontus seems most likely. Various parts of these objects from several museums have been examined by chemical analysis, metallography, and radiography. Some parts are composed of medium carbon steel (0.45-0.65%C.) and others of low carbon steel or wrought iron. The various parts were joined by welding, and in general these weapons show the development of a high degree of skill in the art of iron working.