As to the swordsman in your post #5: because of the state of preservation, I cannot see the curvature:-(   
 
But what I find even more interesting, his sword seems to have a D-guard ( my imagination?). 
We believe that D-guards came to India with Europeans. But  Elgood, in his Hindu book, shows stone carvings of warriors carrying D-guarded swords allegedly dated to the 11th century( p.79). One image( 8.1) shows a slightly curved blade. Elgood, being an extremely careful professional, wanted additional confirmation, preferably actual examples before correcting the history.
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
				  
				
					
						Last edited by ariel; 4th July 2020 at 06:13 PM.
					
					
				
			
		
		
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