Bronze Age era arrowheads and swords seized at the port of Philadelphia

A historic discovery was made at the port of Philadelphia when officers seized a shipment containing dozens of swords and arrowheads that date back to the Bronze Age and are nearly 4,000 years old.

The shipment initially arrived at the port of Philadelphia back on Oct. 16, 2025. Officials said the shipment was on an express flight from the United Arab Emirates with a final destination in Jacksonville, Florida.

Philadelphia Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers x-rayed the shipment and detected sword-like objects. They then opened the shipment and discovered swords and arrowheads. Suspecting that the items were cultural artifacts, they detained the shipment for further investigation.

The officers then contacted the National Targeting Center’s Antiquities Unit. The unit then contacted an archeologist affiliated with a Philadelphia university who had experience working in the Middle East.

On Feb. 13, 2026, the archaeologist confirmed the items were 36 copper-alloy short swords and 50 copper-allow arrowheads dating back to 1600-1000 BCE. The artifacts were from an area along the southwestern Caspian Sea near the Talysh Mountains region of Iran. Officials said the items were likely derived from excavations of burial sites.

The CBP officers then seized the items on Feb. 18 and will safeguard them until a disposition is ordered.

“Customs and Border Protection officers strive to rescue cultural artifacts from the grips of illicit international traders who plunder and exploit another nation’s heritage for profit,” said Elliot N. Ortiz, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director in Philadelphia. “The deceptive practices used to smuggle these treasures into the United States not only violate our import laws but also undermine efforts to preserve and protect the integrity of cultural history.”

According to officials, most countries have laws that protect their cultural property. The laws include export controls and national ownership of cultural property.

“Even if purchased from a business in the country of origin or in another country, the purchase does not necessarily confer ownership for lawful importation into the United States,” a CBP spokesperson wrote. “Importation of such items is permitted only when an export permit issued by the country of origin is presented with the article. Purveyors of such items have been known to offer phony export certificates.”

Take a look at photos of the artifacts below:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

KODAK Digital Still Camera