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Author Topic: Spear References  (Read 2858 times)

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Offline SC

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Spear References
« on: April 24, 2020, 03:52:22 pm »
I am starting a new topic.

This is for information on ancient spearheads from academic studies and excavation reports.

Please do not post from auction catalogues, dealer sites, detector finds or personal collections.

If you wish to post, you must include the reference details.  Also, please include lengths possible and materials if it is not clear.

Here is the first.  This image is from: Deschler-Erb, Eckhard.  Ad arma! Romisches Militar des 1. Jahrhunderts n.Chr. in Augusta Raurica, 1999.

All items are described as iron spearheads and assumed to be Roman and 1st century AD from the context.  Lengths, from the catalogue, are:

56. 194 mm
57. 193 mm
58. 178 mm
59. 185 mm
60. 174 mm
61. 174 mm
62. 125 mm
63. 133 mm
64. 135 mm
65. 312 mm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2020, 01:43:18 pm »
Another image from: Deschler-Erb, Eckhard.  Ad arma! Romisches Militar des 1. Jahrhunderts n.Chr. in Augusta Raurica, 1999.

All items are described as iron spearheads and assumed to be Roman and 1st century AD from the context.  Lengths, from the catalogue, are:

66. 275 mm
67. 246 mm
68. 121 mm
69. 186 mm
70. 233 mm
71. 162 mm
72. 119 mm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2020, 01:46:20 pm »
Last image from: Deschler-Erb, Eckhard.  Ad arma! Romisches Militar des 1. Jahrhunderts n.Chr. in Augusta Raurica, 1999.

All items are described as iron spear ferrules, aka spear butts, aka spear shoes and assumed to be Roman and 1st century AD from the context.  Lengths, from the catalogue, are:

78. 146 mm
79. 139 mm
80. 156 mm
81. 97 mm
82. 85 mm
83. 92 mm
84. 68 mm
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Re: Spear References
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2020, 06:44:26 pm »
Images from Radman-Livaja, Ivan.  Militaria Sisciensia: Nalazi rimske vojne opreme iz Siska u fundusu Arheoloskoga muzeja u Zagrebu, 2004.

From Roman context finds at Siscia

Iron pilum heads

6.  37.5 cm
7.  46 cm

Iron spearheads

8.  34.7 cm
9.  31.5 cm
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Re: Spear References
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2020, 06:45:06 pm »
Images from Radman-Livaja, Ivan.  Militaria Sisciensia: Nalazi rimske vojne opreme iz Siska u fundusu Arheoloskoga muzeja u Zagrebu, 2004.

From Roman context finds at Siscia

Iron spearheads

10.  32.5 cm
11.  28.5 cm
12.  33.8 cm
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Re: Spear References
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2020, 06:45:41 pm »
Images from Radman-Livaja, Ivan.  Militaria Sisciensia: Nalazi rimske vojne opreme iz Siska u fundusu Arheoloskoga muzeja u Zagrebu, 2004.

From Roman context finds at Siscia

Iron spearheads

13.  35.7 cm
14.  40.8 cm
15.  21 cm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2020, 06:46:36 pm »
Images from Radman-Livaja, Ivan.  Militaria Sisciensia: Nalazi rimske vojne opreme iz Siska u fundusu Arheoloskoga muzeja u Zagrebu, 2004.

From Roman context finds at Siscia

Iron spearheads

16.  23.5 cm
17.  18.3 cm
18.  8.2 cm
19.  8.7 cm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2020, 06:47:29 pm »
Images from Radman-Livaja, Ivan.  Militaria Sisciensia: Nalazi rimske vojne opreme iz Siska u fundusu Arheoloskoga muzeja u Zagrebu, 2004.

From Roman context finds at Siscia

Iron spearheads

20.  11 cm
21.  10 cm
22.  8.5 cm
23.  10.4 cm
24.  16.9 cm
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Re: Spear References
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2020, 06:48:19 pm »
Images from Radman-Livaja, Ivan.  Militaria Sisciensia: Nalazi rimske vojne opreme iz Siska u fundusu Arheoloskoga muzeja u Zagrebu, 2004.

From Roman context finds at Siscia

Iron spearhead
25.  16.8 cm

Iron spear ferule / butt/ shoe
26.  5.1 cm
27.  4.6 cm

Iron spearhead
28.  15.3 cm
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Re: Spear References
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2020, 06:49:01 pm »
Images from Radman-Livaja, Ivan.  Militaria Sisciensia: Nalazi rimske vojne opreme iz Siska u fundusu Arheoloskoga muzeja u Zagrebu, 2004.

From Roman context finds at Siscia

Iron plumbata heads with lead weights

33.  16 cm (if straightened)
34.  18 cm
35.  27 cm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2020, 09:51:43 pm »
From the Catalogue of The Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum by P. R. S. Moorey, 1971.

These types are typically dated late second to early first millennium BC.

84. 39 cm, ovate blade, rat-tanged, rectangular-sectioned midrib
85. 22.3 cm, leaf-shaped blade, triangular midrib, folded socket with two holes at base for a transverse rivet, slight flange at base
86. 36 cm, leaf-shaped blade with triangular midrib, folded socket
87. 24 cm, ovate blade, rounded midrib, folded socket, rivet hole
88. 54.8 cm, long triangular blade tapering towards point, straight shoulders, triangular midrib with double traced lines running down either side, folded socket with upper part decorated with a traced herring-bone pattern, rivet holes
89. 57 cm, triangular blade tapering towards point, rounded midrib and square shoulders, long folded socket with two rivet holes near base


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Re: Spear References
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2020, 10:18:16 pm »
From Tools and Weapons by W. M. Flinders Petrie, 1917. Sizes are not provided. Further information may be gleaned from pp. 30 - 33:
https://ia800902.us.archive.org/27/items/toolsweaponsillu00petr/toolsweaponsillu00petr.pdf

Petrie, plates XXXVII and XXXVIII:


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Re: Spear References
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2020, 10:20:14 pm »
Petrie, plates XXXIX and XL:

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2020, 11:00:15 am »
From Lyuben Leshakov, Otnosno proizkhoda, tipologiyata i rzprostpanenieto na nyakoi v'pkhove za copia ot epir, in Collegium Historicum T.2, 2012.

Fig.1 shows main forms of bladed spearheads from Southeast Europe during Late Bronze Age.

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2020, 11:18:26 am »
Wow, nice discussion,  +++

 Joe/Q.
All the Best :), Joe
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Re: Spear References
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2020, 11:54:18 am »
From Christopher Unz and Eckhard Deschler-Erb, Katalog der Militaria aus Vindonissa, 1997.

All iron and Roman from context.  1st to 4th century.  Length not given as illustrated 1/3 scale.  However actual page size is unknown in digital format.  Weights given.

247 = large stabbing spearhead
248-258 = large spearhead for throwing and stabbing
259-274 = simple spearhead


247.  273g         259.  119g
248.  ?g            260.  109g
249.  ?g            261.  94g
250.  102g         262.  ?g
251.  106g         263.  106g
252.  130g         264.  63g
253.  162g         265.  74g
254.  161g         266.  67g
255.  174g         267.  87g
256.  115g         268.  63g
257.  98g            269.  ?g
258.  174g         270.  ?g
               271.  106g
               272.  199g
               273.  77g
               274.  66g
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Re: Spear References
« Reply #16 on: April 26, 2020, 11:55:36 am »


From Christopher Unz and Eckhard Deschler-Erb, Katalog der Militaria aus Vindonissa, 1997.

All iron and Roman from context.  1st to 4th century unless otherwise noted.  Length not given as illustrated 1/3 scale.  However actual page size is unknown in digital format.  Weights given.

275-289 = narrow lanceolate spearhead
291 = caltrop
290, 292-304 = spear shoes / butt / ferrule
305-329 = small spearheads
330 = possible insignia spearhead? (feldzeichens)
331-333 = barbed spearhead (2nd to 4th century)
334-335 = martiobarbulli / plumabata head, iron and lead (2nd to 4th century)

275.  41g      290.  246g    305.  23g      320.  71g
276.  83g      291.  10g       306.  24g      321.  38g
277.  90g      292.  42g       307.  32g      322.  48g
278.  66g      293.  22g       308.  26g      323.  31g
279.  99g      294.  ?g      309.  26g      324.  39g
280.  103g   295.  ?g      310.  40g      325.  ?g
281.  82g      296.  ?g      311.  16g      326.  47g
282.  82g      297.  38g      312.  ?g      327.  43g
283.  ?g      298.  79g      313.  16g      328.  ?g
284.  32g      299.  114g   314.  43g      329.  75g
285.  99g      300.  ?g      315.  ?g      330.  ?g
286.  100g   301.  148g      316.  46g      331.  30g
287.  112g   302.  55g      317.  35g      332.  125g
288.  108g   303.  25g      318.  86g      333.  149g
289.  87g      304.  54g      319.  55g      334.  38g
                           335.  ?g

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #17 on: April 26, 2020, 11:57:43 am »
I think we have Roman pretty well covered, though maybe there are other good references - a typology would be great.

Good start on bronze age thanks to Robert L3.

Would be nice to find some good sources on iron age Celtic, Germanic, Medieval, etc.


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Re: Spear References
« Reply #18 on: March 12, 2021, 07:47:50 pm »
Parthian spearheads, from Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani's Arms and Armor from Iran: The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period. All are iron and date to the first or second century AD. See image for specific information about each of the five illustrated specimens.

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2021, 10:43:58 am »
Plate VI from Ezat O. Negahban’s Weapons from Marlik, 1995. (FYI, Marlik is an ancient site in NW Iran)
All of these are bronze. They are often dated to a span between the late second to early first millennium BC – or just the generic “c. 1000 BC”.

Pl. VI, 66 = 42.5 cm
Pl. VI, 67 = 44 cm
Pl. VI, 68 = 51 cm
Pl. VI, 69 = 55 cm
Pl. VI, 70 = 49 cm
Pl. VI, 71 = 60 cm
Pl. VI, 72 = 46.8 cm
Pl. VI, 73 = 41.5 cm
Pl. VI, 74 = 58.3 cm
Pl. VI, 75 = 45 cm
Pl. VI, 76 = 44.5 cm
Pl. VI, 77 = 48 cm
Pl. VI, 78 = 35 cm
Pl. VI, 79 = 42 cm
Pl. VI, 80 = 46 cm


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Re: Spear References
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2021, 11:01:53 am »
Plate VII, Weapons from Marlik. All are bronze.

Pl. VII, 81 = 64 cm
Pl. VII, 82 = 78 cm
Pl. VII, 83 = 69 cm
Pl. VII, 84 = 55 cm
Pl. VII, 85 = 57.5 cm
Pl. VII, 86 = 76 cm
Pl. VII, 87 = 47 cm
Pl. VII, 88 = 69.7 cm (reassembled)
Pl. VII, 89 = 45.3 cm
Pl. VII, 90 = 53.5 cm
Pl. VII, 91 = 37 cm
Pl. VII, 92 = 50 cm
Pl. VII, 93 = 49 cm
Pl. VII, 94 = 39 cm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2021, 11:14:12 am »
Plate VIII, Weapons from Marlik. All are bronze.

Pl. VIII, 95 = 36 cm
Pl. VIII, 96 = 39.5 cm
Pl. VIII, 97 = 35 cm
Pl. VIII, 98 = 48 cm
Pl. VIII, 99 = 62.5 cm
Pl. VIII, 100 = 55 cm
Pl. VIII, 101 = 55 cm
Pl. VIII, 102 = 52 cm
Pl. VIII, 103 = 48.5 cm
Pl. VIII, 104 = 55 cm
Pl. VIII, 105 = 55 cm
Pl. VIII, 106 = 47.5 cm
Pl. VIII, 107 = 52.5 cm


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Re: Spear References
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2021, 11:24:21 am »
Plate IX, Weapons from Marlik. All are bronze.

Pl. IX, 108 = 51.5 cm
Pl. IX, 109 = 55 cm
Pl. IX, 110 = 40 cm
Pl. IX, 111 = 47 cm
Pl. IX, 112 = 52 cm
Pl. IX, 113 = 40 cm
Pl. IX, 114 = 25.5 cm
Pl. IX, 115 = 49 cm
Pl. IX, 116 = 29 cm
Pl. IX, 117 = 40 cm
Pl. IX, 118 = 54 cm
Pl. IX, 119 = 40 cm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #23 on: March 13, 2021, 11:32:59 am »
Plate X, Weapons from Marlik. All are bronze.

Pl. X, 120 = 47 cm
Pl. X, 121 = 43 cm
Pl. X, 122 = 35.5 cm
Pl. X, 123 = 44 cm
Pl. X, 124 = 40 cm
Pl. X, 125 = 41.5 cm
Pl. X, 126 = 41 cm
Pl. X, 127 = 43 cm
Pl. X, 128 = 40 cm
Pl. X, 129 = 46.5 cm
Pl. X, 130 = 51.8 cm
Pl. X, 131 = 45 cm

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Re: Spear References
« Reply #24 on: March 13, 2021, 11:41:11 am »
Plate XI, Weapons from Marlik. All are bronze.

Pl. XI, 132 = 60 cm
Pl. XI, 133 = 63 cm
Pl. XI, 134 = 54.5 cm
Pl. XI, 135 = 55 cm
Pl. XI, 136 = 43 cm
Pl. XI, 137 = 53.5 cm
Pl. XI, 138 = 59 cm
Pl. XI, 139 = 46 cm
Pl. XI, 140 = 22.5 cm
Pl. XI, 141 = 21.5 cm
Pl. XI, 142 = 25 cm
Pl. XI, 143 = 28.5 cm

 

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