It certainly is very old ... but what is it ?

[fernando]

Thank you Barry

Originally Posted by VANDOO

METAL BUTT SPIKES NOT ONLY SERVE THE PURPOSE OF ENABELING THE SPEAR TO BE STUCK UPRIGHT IF THE GROUND IS SOFT ENOUGH, ... AT A PRIOR STAGE BUTT CONES WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO FIX THE LANCE TIGHTLY AGAINST "ANY" GROUND AND HOLD IT IN ANGLE, TO RETAIN THE CAVALRY HORSES WHEN THEY ATACKED . BUT MAY ALSO AID IN THE BALANCE OF A THROWN SPEAR ?. THEY COULD ALSO BE USED AS A SORT OF TOOL IN SOME INSTANCES, THE DESIGNS ON THIS ONE ARE ALL SIMPLE LINE DESIGNS USED JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE AND ARE A VERY PRIMITAVE SORT. ... AS I SAID, I AM CONVINCED THIS THING IS A GOOD COUPLE CENTURIES OLD. OBVIOUSLY, IF IT WERE AN AFRICAN ITEM, ITS RUSTICITY WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION, AS BEING OF MUCH LESS AGE, BUT I WOULDN'T GO FOR AFRICA UNLESS A SIMILAR ITEM POPS UP . I NOTE IT HAS A HOLE FOR ATACHMENT TO A SHAFT. THE SOCKET IS A VERY OPEN TYPE AND WITH JUST ONE NAIL TO HOLD, IT WOULD NOT MAKE A VERY GOOD WEAPON AS IT WOULD BE MORE PRONE TO COME LOSE. ... BUT THEN, A TOOL WOULDN'T HAVE SUCH DECORATION, SPECIALLY IF IT WERE A GROUND TOOL NOW FOR SOME FUN I WILL PROPOSE A USE WHICH MAY NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN THOUGHT OF. THE SQUARE FORM AND THE DESIGNS WOULD BE GOOD FOR SCRATCHING BETWEEN THE TOES OR REMOVING MUD WITHOUT BENDING DOWN A HANDY TOOL FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALWAYS BAREFOOT. ... BRILLIANT ... THAT REMINDS ME OF ELEPHANT FEET TRIMMING KITS

http://www.elephant.se/trimming_elephant_feet.php

Fernando