Sudanese spearheads with handles & arrow heads???

fearn · 16th May 2006, 06:23 PM

Hi Katana,

Interesting items! To figure out whether those points are arrow heads or dart/javelin heads, it would be useful to know a) their lengths, and b) the inside diameter of the sockets.

Just as a note, I've been reading some interesting books from the archeological recreaters--the guys who are into making stone weapons. They've learned quite a lot about throwing darts, javelins, spears, etc. with spear throwers, batons de commandment, cords, and what have you. I can expand on this in another thread if desired, but the basic point is that throwing spears, especially those thrown with a spear thrower, are better thought of as double-length arrows rather than as lances. Often, spears designed primarily as missiles can have diameters <1 in (1-3 cm).

The basic point is that there's a size overlap between arrows and thrown spears, to the extent that some American archeologists have stopped talking about "large arrowheads" and "small spearheads" and started talking about "dart points," basically because the smallest, slenderest throwing spears are the same size as the largest, heaviest arrows, and only the details of the shaft can be used to distinguish them (presence/absence of features such as feathers, nocks, etc).

My 0.02 cents,

F

16th May 2006, 06:23 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Katana, Interesting items! To figure out whether those points are arrow heads or dart/javelin heads, it would be useful to know a) their lengths, and b) the inside diameter of the sockets. Just as a note, I've been reading some interesting books from the archeological recreaters--the guys who are into making stone weapons. They've learned quite a lot about throwing darts, javelins, spears, etc. with spear throwers, batons de commandment, cords, and what have you. I can expand on this in another thread if desired, but the basic point is that throwing spears, especially those thrown with a spear thrower, are better thought of as double-length arrows rather than as lances. Often, spears designed primarily as missiles can have diameters <1 in (1-3 cm). The basic point is that there's a size overlap between arrows and thrown spears, to the extent that some American archeologists have stopped talking about "large arrowheads" and "small spearheads" and started talking about "dart points," basically because the smallest, slenderest throwing spears are the same size as the largest, heaviest arrows, and only the details of the shaft can be used to distinguish them (presence/absence of features such as feathers, nocks, etc). My 0.02 cents, F