The discovery emerged from excavations at the Liyarsangbon Cemetery in Guilan Province, Iran, where researchers uncovered 77 skeletal remains dating to the Parthian era (247 BC to 224 AD). Among these burials, one adult male's remains told a particularly compelling story of survival against the odds, offering a rare glimpse into the harsh realities faced by ancient warriors. The findings have recently been published in the published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
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Images of the tibia bone with an embedded arrowhead. (Egdami et al./International Journal of Osteoarchaeology)
Masters of Ancient Warfare
The Parthians were renowned throughout the ancient world for their exceptional military prowess, particularly their mounted warfare tactics and deadly accurate archery skills. Even the mighty Romans recognized Parthian metalworking as exceptional, especially their production of weapons and horse equipment. This reputation for martial excellence makes the discovery of an actual battlefield injury all the more significant notes Phys.org.
Dr. Mohammad Reza Eghdami of the University of Guilan, who led the research team, explained that the warrior had been buried on his left side with bent legs in a flexed position. His grave goods included metal artifacts and a poorly constructed pottery jar containing bird remains and smoke traces, suggesting ritual significance in his burial practices.
The Parthian Empire in 001 AD. (Thomas Lessman (Contact!)/ CC BY 3.0)
Advanced Analysis Reveals Ancient Trauma
Using cutting-edge technology including X-ray fluorescence, quantometer analysis, and CT scans, researchers identified a metallic object embedded within the warrior's right tibia. The object proved to be a sophisticated three-bladed metal arrowhead measuring 44mm in length and 15mm in width, consistent with other known Parthian weaponry.
The arrowhead's intricate design and sharp precision underscore the advanced level of craftsmanship within Parthian toolmaking and reflect their high degree of expertise in metallurgy. Its ability to penetrate deeply into the lateral condyle of the right tibia serves as testament to the skill and technological sophistication involved in its creation reports Archaeology Magazine.
A bronze socketed trilobate arrowhead, similar to the one found embedded in the Parthian warrior. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Evidence of Healing and Medical Limitations
The bone analysis revealed clear signs of healing around the embedded arrowhead. Dense bone tissue had begun forming around the foreign object, indicating the warrior survived the initial trauma and lived for a considerable period afterward. However, no evidence of infection or new bone formation was found beyond the immediate area of penetration.
"The bone structure shows signs of healing around the beam, and the external condition of the wound suggests that a significant amount of time has passed and the healing process has occurred," explained Dr. Eghdami.
However, he noted that determining the exact survival time after the injury remains impossible with current methods.
Rare Evidence of Ancient Violence
Interestingly, weapon-related injuries are extremely rare among the 77 burials at Liyarsangbon, with only one other case involving a knife wound to the throat and maxilla. This scarcity makes the arrow wound discovery particularly significant for understanding ancient warfare patterns and medical responses.
Despite the numerous weapons found throughout the burial site, the low frequency of traumatic injuries suggests either effective medical treatment, successful conflict avoidance, or that most battle casualties were buried elsewhere. The inability to remove the deeply embedded arrowhead reveals important limitations in Parthian surgical practices, providing insights into the medical capabilities of this ancient civilization.
Large Mandala Wood Wall Art Illuminated from the Ancient Origins Shop.
Windows into Ancient Medical Knowledge
Dr. Eghdami acknowledged significant gaps in understanding Parthian medical practices: "Scientific information regarding the Parthian period remains scarce, and regrettably, no verified data has been acquired on the matter." Future studies in paleobotany and medicinal plants may provide additional insights into Parthian medical knowledge.
This discovery highlights the deadly effectiveness of Parthian weaponry while simultaneously revealing the constraints of their surgical capabilities. The warrior's survival demonstrates remarkable resilience, but the permanent presence of the arrowhead underscores the medical limitations that ancient peoples faced when dealing with severe battlefield trauma.
The find adds another crucial piece to our understanding of daily life, warfare, and survival in the ancient world, reminding us that behind every archaeological artifact lies a human story of courage, pain, and perseverance.
Top image: Archaeological excavation work at Liyarsangbon Cemetery site. Inset, Image of the tibia bone with an embedded arrowhead. Source: University of Chicago Press, Inset, Egdami et al./International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
By Gary Manners
References
Eghdami, M. R. et al. 2025. Weaponry and a Healed Wound From the Parthian Era (247 BCE to 224 CE): Insights From the Liyarsangbon Cemetery, Guilan, Iran. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oa.70038
Eghdami, M. R. et al. 2023. Excavations of Parthian Human Bone Remains at Liyarsangbon Cemetery, Amlash District, Guilan Province, Iranwith Special Reference to Sexed Patterns of Burial and Gender Discrimination. University of Chicago Press. Available at: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/724787
Oster, S. 2025. Study finds ancient Parthian man shot by an arrow which was never removed. Available at: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-ancient-parthian-shot-arrow.html
