"…Odysseus, infuriated by the death of his comrade, hit him with his spear on one temple, and the bronze point came through on other side of his forehead…" Homer, The Illiad, book IV
Ancient weapons of the European Bronze Age below include spears, javelins, lance, arrow heads, battle-axes, swords and daggers.
Cast. The long and narrow leaf-shaped blade with all-in-one cast socket. The hollow of the socket continues in the lower half of the blade. Three ridges on the blade. Ridges running along the blade and the socket was standard for the Aegean and typical for Balkans and East-Central Europe. Two diametrically opposed holes for rivets at lower socket to secure the shaft. Length 16.3"(41.3 cm), Width 1.6"(4.2 cm).
For published examples of similar spearheads see:
-S. Alexandrov, Y. Dimitrova, H. Popov, B. Horejs , K. Chukalev (eds.), Gold and Bronze. Metals, Technologies and Interregional Contacts in the Eastern Balkans during the Bronze Age, Sofia 2018, cat. 449.
- K. Demakopoulou and J. H. Crouwel Some Mycenaean Tombs at Palaiokastro, Arcadia. The Annual of the British School at Athens The Annual of the British School at Athens Vol. 93 (1998), pp. 275, fig 7.
-Avila, R.A.J. Bronzene Lanzen-und Pfeilspitzen der griechischen Spätbronzezeit , Munich, 1983, Т. 8/44-45, Т. 16/106)
-Höckmann, O. 2007. ZuLanzenspitzen ägäischer Artaus Bulgarien. In: Prae. Inhonorem Henrieta odoro- va. Soa. 215-224
-L. Leshtakov, Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Bronze Spear- and Javelin heads in Bulgaria in the Context of Southeastern Europe, Archaeologia Bulgarica, XV, 2 (2011), 25-52, fig.2, 1, 2.
$ 6000
Cast. Double-edged wide blade with guard, well defined midrib in the middle and along perimeter on both sides. Flat haft.
Intact. Length 5.8" (14.7 cm), Height 0.1” (0.35 cm), Width 1.3” (6 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- Klochko V. I., Weaponry of societies of the Northern Pontic culture circle: 5000-700 BC. Poznań : Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Eastern Studies, Institute of Prehistory, 2001, Fig. 41: 7
- Berezanskaya S. S., Otroshenko V.V.,Kulturi epohi bronzi na teritorii Ukraini, Kiev, 1986,fig 3.
- Gimbutas M. Bronze Age Cultures in Central and Eastern Europe. Paris, London, 1965, p. 227, 156-1.
$ 650
Cast and hammered. Double-edged, leaf-shaped blade with faintly defined midrib. Narrow haft with rectangular cross section. Slightly thicker along the central long axis and tapering towards the edges. Length 5.2" (13.2 cm), thickness 3 mm.
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- Bratchenko S.N. Donetska katakombna kultura rannyogo etapu. Vol.2. Fig. plates. Lugansk, 2001, fig.71.
- N. V. Ryndina, A. D. Degtyareva, Non-ferrous Metal of the Yamnaya Cultural-Historical Area from Sites of Ukraine: morphology and production technology, Stratum plus. 2, 2018, fig. 3.
$ 375
Cast. Leaf-shaped blade with an oval stop at shaft. Well defined midrib. Long narrow haft with rectangular cross section.
Intact. Length 5" (12.7 cm). Height 0.6” (1.6 cm) Width 1.2” (3.0 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- Klochko V. I., Weaponry of societies of the Northern Pontic culture circle: 5000-700 BC. Poznań : Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Eastern Studies, Institute of Prehistory, 2001, Fig. 87: 12
$ 450
Cast and hammered. Wide, double-edged wide leaf-shaped blade with flattened diamond-shape cross-section. There are two symmetrical rivet holes for hilt attachment, impression of which is clearly visible. Length 5.6" (14.2 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- Klochko V. I., Weaponry of societies of the Northern Pontic culture circle: 5000-700 BC. Poznań : Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Eastern Studies, Institute of Prehistory, 2001, Fig. 29: 6
$ 550
Cast. Double-edged, broad leaf-shaped blade with faintly defined midrib. Narrow haft with rectangular cross section. Rivet-hole for attaching the grip. Height 6.7" (17.2 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
-V. Klochko, L. Klochko, Complex of Metal Goods between the Vistula and Dnieper Rivers at the turn of 4000-3000 to 3000 BC Concept of the Carpathian – Volhynia “Willow Leaf” Metallurgy Centre. Baltic-Pontic Studies vol. 18: 2013, 36-68; p.56 fig. 14, 23.
$ 600
Cast and hammered. Double-edged, rhomboidal shaped blade. Narrow and slightly thicker haft with rectangular cross section.
Intact. Length 3.5" (8.9 cm). Height 0.1” (0.3 cm). Width 1.2” (3.1 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- Bratchenko S.N. Donetska katakombna kultura rannyogo etapu. Vol.2. Fig. plates. Lugansk, 2001, fig.71.
- N. V. Ryndina, A. D. Degtyareva, Non-ferrous Metal of the Yamnaya Cultural-Historical Area from Sites of Ukraine: morphology and production technology, Stratum plus. 2, 2018, fig. 3.
- Klochko V. I., Weaponry of societies of the Northern Pontic culture circle: 5000-700 BC. Poznań : Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Eastern Studies, Institute of Prehistory, 2001, Fig. 43: 9
$ 250
Tubular hollow hilt, oval in cross sections, widens to a triangular blade with three parallel ridges and widens to a flat projection with a round opening in the middle.
Intact. Length 9" (22.9 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- J. Curtis, Ancient Caucasian and Related Material in The British Museum (British Museum Occasional Papers), 2002, p.41-42 cat. 119, 120.
$ 1400
Cast. Double-edged leaf-shaped blade. Well defined midrib graduating to a conical socket. There are shallow concave channeling parallel to cutting edge on both sides. Diametrically opposed holes on upper socket to secure the shaft. Weight 87 g, length 6.2"(15.7 cm).
For published examples of similar spearheads see:
- Leshtakov, Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Bronze Spear- and Javelin heads in Bulgaria in the Context of Southeastern Europe, Archaeologia Bulgarica, XV, 2 (2011), 25-52, fig.5, 4; p.132
- M. Petrescu-Dimbovita, Depozitele de bronzuri din Romania, Editura Academiei Romania, Bucuresti, pl.201: 21, 23
- Stephan Foltiny: Zur Chronologie der Bronzezeit des Karpatenbeckens / Chronologie doby bronzové karpatského regionu / Chronology of the Bronze Carpathian Region
$ 450
Cast in two part mold; elongated body with hexahedral cross section, oval socket with reinforced rim, two external handle-loops on vertical seams at top. Decorative band of triangles in between them. Height 5.2" (13.2 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- Klochko V. I., Weaponry of societies of the Northern Pontic culture circle: 5000-700 BC. Poznań : Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Eastern Studies, Institute of Prehistory, 2001, Fig. 94: 3
-Lescov A.M. Jung-und spätbronzezeit-liche Depotfunde im nördlichen Schwarzmeergebiet, 1- Prähistorische Bronzefunde, München, 1981, 113 S.
$ 750
Eastern Transylvania type. Hollow-cast. Rectangular form, with oval socket with reinforced rim, two external handle-loops on vertical seams at top. Cutting plane with parabola outline, vertex is in between handles.
Length 3.8" (9.7 cm).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- Mensch, Kultur und Gesellschaft von der Kupferzeit bis zur frühen Eisezeit im Nördlichen Eurasien (Beiträge zu Ehren zum 60. Geburtstag von Eugen Sava) =Man, culture, and society from the Copper Age until the Early Iron Age in Northern Eurasia (Contributions in honor of the 60th anniversary of Eugen Sava) /Nat. Museum of History of Moldova, Freie Univ. Berlin; ed.: Aurel Zanoci [et al.]. –Chişinău: S. n., 2016, fig.7, 1.
- Klochko V. I., Weaponry of societies of the Northern Pontic culture circle: 5000-700 BC. Poznań : Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Eastern Studies, Institute of Prehistory, 2001, Fig. 91: 5
$ 375
Hollow-cast, hollow in upper half. Body flaring and faceted at cutting edge. Oval socket with beveled reinforced rim; one external handle-loop on the vertical seam. Molded in low relief lines from seams to rim. Length 4.1" (10.4 cm). Part of the body is absent (ancient loss).
For similar published archaeological examples see:
- M. Petrescu-Dimbovita, Depozitele de bronzuri din Romania, Editura Academiei Romania, Bucuresti, pl.23: 6
$ 275