US authorities have seized a cache of ancient weapons after intercepting a shipment of 36 Bronze Age short swords and 50 arrowheads at the Port of Philadelphia. The artifacts, dating back nearly 4,000 years, were confirmed by archaeologists to be genuine cultural heritage items originating from ancient Iran. The seizure was carried out by US Customs and Border Protection on February 18, 2026, after the cargo was flagged during routine screening. Officials said the weapons were misdeclared, routed through multiple countries, and likely intended for the illicit antiquities market in the United States.
