Date: Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC)
Provenance: Excavated from tomb M2001, Guo State tombs, Sanmenxia, Henan province, 1990
Measurements: Length: 33 cm

This sword is composed of an iron blade and a jade hilt with a bronze core running through its hollow center connecting the blade. There is a piece of turquoise inlaid where the hilt meets the blade. It has been confirmed by close examination that this is China's earliest manually smelted iron ware, formed by smelting the pieces of iron and forging them together. 

Its discovery is of great significance as it clarifies that Chinese iron smelting began at least 200 years earlier than previously thought.