During the reign of King Zer the ivory arrow tip began to be commonly used; hundreds were gathered from his tomb, and the variety of forms is greater than in any other reign.  Besides the plain circular points, many of them have reddened tips; there are also examples of quadrangular barbed tips, and others are pentagonal, square, or oval.  Only the plain circular tips appear in succeeding reigns down to the reign of Mersekha, except a single example of the oval forms under Den.

[Illustration:  399.jpg CARVED IVORY LION]

Some flint arrow-heads were also found around the tomb of Zer, mostly of the same type as those found in the tomb of Mena.  Two, however, of these arrow-heads, Numbers 13 and 14, are of a form entirely unknown as yet in any other age or country.  The extreme top of the head is of a chisel form, and this passes below into the more familiar pointed form.  The inference here is almost inevitable, and it seems as if the arrow-heads had been made in this peculiar way with a view to using the arrow a second time after the tip was broken in attacking an animal.

[Illustration:  400.jpg ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARROWS]

Another curious object dating from this reign and classed among the arrows is a small portion of flint set perpendicularly into the end of a piece of wood.  This, in the opinion of Professor Giglioli, is not an arrow at all, but a tattooing instrument.  If this explanation be correct, then this instrument is an extremely interesting find, for the fact has been recently brought to light that tattooing was in vogue in prehistoric times, and there is, moreover, at Cairo, the mummy of a priestess of the twelfth dynasty having the skin decorated in this manner.

Among the domestic articles is an admirable design of pair of tweezers, made with a wide hinge and stiff points.  Of analogous interest are two copper fish-hooks, which, however, have no barbs.  Needles also, which we know were used in prehistoric days, appear in the relics of the tomb of Zer and of subsequent rulers.  Of the reign of Zer are also found copper harpoons cut with a second fang, similar forms being found among the remains of Mersekha and of Khasekhemui.  In the centre of the illustration is seen the outline of a chisel of the time of Zer, very similar to those used in the early prehistoric ages.  The same continuity from prehistoric to first dynasty times is shown in the shape of the copper pins dating from Zer, Den, Mersekha, and Qa.

[Illustration:  401.jpg MISCELLANEOUS COPPER OBJECTS]

At various times quite a considerable number of articles relating to intimate daily life has been discovered.  An exceedingly fortunate find was that of an ivory comb of crude but careful workmanship, and which, even after the lapse of sixty-seven centuries, has only lost three of its teeth.  This comb, according to the inscription on it, belonged to Bener-ab, a distinguished lady, whose tomb has been already mentioned, and who was either the wife or the daughter of King Mena of the first dynasty.