Beijing, Oct 1 (IANS) A copper sword dating back to over 2,200 years has been discovered in eastern China, a media report said Saturday.

The design and shape of the sword indicate that it was forged during the Warring States Period (475 BC – 221 BC), Global Times reported quoting Li Guoli, curator of the Nanchang Museum, where the sword is currently being stored.

Despite having little aesthetic or scientific value due to a lack of decor or inscriptions, the sword still offers insights into the type of military equipment used during the period, Li said.

The identity of the sword’s original owner and the precise location where the sword was forged and used are still unknown, Li said.

The sword was discovered by a labourer in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province, while cleaning stones that had been dredged up from a riverbank.