Kamnaskires Posted July 23, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 23, 2022 (edited) Among the latest pickups for my weaponry collection are three spearheads that are rather special. They are designated “AE Spearhead #’s 26, 27, and 28” in my inventory. None is a run-of-the-mill, easier-to-acquire, undecorated tanged blade. Each is likely from Western Asia. (Two of the three are almost certainly from the Gilan region of northwestern Iran, along the southwestern coastal area of the Caspian Sea.) Each likely dates to the Early Iron Age I and II in Iran (1200 - 800 BC). One (#26) is possibly unique in its particular combination of form and incised decoration. Another (#27) is very large, measuring almost 25”. It is not only the longest spearhead I now own, but also simply the longest weapon in my collection - period. The third (#28) is a very rare type that I have wanted for quite a while. I have known of the type only from reference books - and a single other specimen I spotted on the market. AE Spearhead #26 (below) Luristan? 1200 – 800 BC 31.6 cm (12.4”) Description: Elongated blade with shaft encasing tang, incised decoration, tip broken. This spearhead (above) is a bit mysterious. Usually, I can ID my weapons with a fair degree of confidence using a number of scholarly references that I have access to. However, I’ve actually never seen any other specimen quite like this one. The tentative attribution to Luristan (I include a "?" after "Luristan" in its description in my gallery) - is speculative and is based on a slight resemblance to similarly profiled, rare Luristani spearheads I've seen in references. The blade, which is very narrow and long, has a flattened diamond cross-section. Incised geometric decoration is occasionally encountered on ancient Iranian bronze weapons of the Early Iron Age (although more often on daggers and arrowheads), like on this hilt from my collection: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/16274/AE_Hilt_1.jpg AE Spearhead #27 (below) NW Iran (Possibly Marlik) 1200 - 800 BC 62.5 cm (24.6") x 65 mm (2.56") Description: Large spearhead with long socket progressing from circular to rectangular cross-section, leaf-shaped blade. The spearhead above is a type associated with Marlik, an excavated mound in Gilan in northwest Iran. The inhabitants of Marlik “seem to have flourished from near the end of the second millennium B.C. to the beginning of the first…contemporaneously with the last Middle Assyrian kings.” (Art of the Marlik Culture by Charles K. Wilkinson, Curator Emeritus of Near Eastern Art at the Met) While I do already own one of these with long socket and leaf-shaped blade (AE Spearhead #20 in my gallery) – this new one, at almost 25", is double the length and therefore truly special. To give a sense of how large this new monster is, I am including some pics for context below. One of the images shows the two Marlik spearheads as they currently reside, side-by-side in one of my display cases. I also include reference pics of the type from Christian Konrad Piller’s Untersuchungen zur relative Chronologie der Nekropole von Marlik (Investigations on the Relative Chronology of the Necropolis of Marlik) and Ezat O. Neghaban’s Weapons from Marlik. AE Spearhead #28 (below) NW Iran (Possibly Marlik) 1200 - 800 BC 23 cm (9”) Description: Long, hollow cylindrical socket (damaged at end); two bands encircling socket to help secure spearhead to shaft; incised horizontal lines near rounded shoulders; pronounced circular-sectioned midrib tapering toward point; small losses. AE Spearhead #28 is a rare type also associated with Marlik. Its most striking (pardon the pun) feature is two bronze bands encircling the socket, to aid in securing the spearhead to the shaft. Reference illustrations of the type, from Piller and Neghaban, are below. Edited July 23, 2022 by Kamnaskires 14 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted July 23, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted July 23, 2022 @Kamnaskires.....Wow!..Wonderful looking pieces Bob....Very impressive additions and as always super photography, I can almost feel them... Congrats.. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamnaskires Posted July 23, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 23, 2022 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Spaniard said: I can almost feel them Hopefully not in a bad, deeply lodged way. I refuse to be held liable, Paul. Edited July 23, 2022 by Kamnaskires 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwerpen2306 Posted August 25, 2022 · Member Share Posted August 25, 2022 beautyful speareheads. I have only one, an iron Celtic spearhead dating to 400 BC and found in the Danube river. Its shaft is hollow and still retains remnants of the original handle, the lenght is about 16,5 cm. Ubfortunately, I have no photo here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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