Sudanese spears of Mahdist Period 1881-1899

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Edster

Tim,

My opinion is based thusly. If Jim's floor tiles are 12 X 12, the blade length is of that scale. The blade is riveted to the shaft, not very strong. Plus, the shaft is around a foot long, certainly too short and out of balance with the blade for two handed close combat. Better battle options were available.

Best,
Ed

Ed, I gotta say again, Holmes pales next to your forensics!! Purely elementary right? but I sure never thought of the 'tiles standard' .
As you say, while this blade is substantial, I always thought it too large and without any sort of ribbing etc, plus as you note, the shaft which would fail on impact.
Coupled with the notable applied decoration/exhortations etc. which seem more aligned with courtly character (aside from the crudely etched thuluth on the kaskaras and sundry arms from Omdurman and Khartoum shops).

Best
Jim

PS: In rechecking the notorious tiles, they were 16x16" .

[G. Mansfield]

Jim, I too agree that your spearhead example to be a alam standard due to the decoration of thuluth and form, and like Ed stated, this would not funtion well in actual battle other than rallying the warriors. It is likely a ceremonial or parade piece. It is although a very nice example of the type. I have a similar examplar, with thuluth on a Mahdist replica throwing knife with symbolism of crescent moons, stars, and pseudo- Arabic writing that may just be imitated calligraphy. It is missing its grip which was likely reptile skin.

Also attached are pictures of a javelin head that comes from the Sudan Region. I still have not narrowed it in exacly where but it may originate between Chad, Darfur, and the Kordofan area (?) The blade fullers and shape remind me of Tubu and Darfur bladed short swords found in Western Sudan and Eastern Chad. The socket is however twisted and not typical for the area (?) I am assuming this at one point in its lifetime was complete with a shaft and possibly a butt which at one point broke and the reptile grip was added and became a scepter...something often seen during the Mahdist time period. See http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3820 and http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1872

-Geoffrey

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by G. Mansfield

Jim, I too agree that your spearhead example to be a alam standard due to the decoration of thuluth and form, and like Ed stated, this would not funtion well in actual battle other than rallying the warriors. It is likely a ceremonial or parade piece. It is although a very nice example of the type. I have a similar examplar, with thuluth on a Mahdist replica throwing knife with symbolism of crescent moons, stars, and pseudo- Arabic writing that may just be imitated calligraphy. It is missing its grip which was likely reptile skin.

Also attached are pictures of a javelin head that comes from the Sudan Region. I still have not narrowed it in exacly where but it may originate between Chad, Darfur, and the Kordofan area (?) The blade fullers and shape remind me of Tubu and Darfur bladed short swords found in Western Sudan and Eastern Chad. The socket is however twisted and not typical for the area (?) I am assuming this at one point in its lifetime was complete with a shaft and possibly a butt which at one point broke and the reptile grip was added and became a scepter...something often seen during the Mahdist time period. See http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=3820 and http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1872

-Geoffrey

Thank you! Great examples you add here as well.
I think trying to classify these items regionally is typically pretty futile as diffusion among tribal groups usually transcends geography.
My example may well be intended ceremonially, likely in the daily assemblies held by the Khaliph for the following, as noted by Ed.

Thank you again for these additions! Exactly what I was hoping for in examining these aspects of Sudanese arms.

[Edster]

Jim,

This may add to the discussion. See attachment, if it works.

ON THE ARMS OF THE ARAB AND NEGRO TRIBES 01: CENTI~ALAFRICA, BOItDERINC: ON THE WHITE NILE.
By John Petherick 1857

[G. Mansfield]

Thank you Ed for posting this article! I will add it to my records for future reference.

Tim, your spear is similar to one that I have. From the decoration notchings at the base, I believe it to be from the Shilluk and certainly old enough to fit into this time frame of the Mahdist period. The Kalifa spanned large swaths of Sudan (Mahdist map), so I will post it for relevancy and comparison. It is only the spearhead, missing the shaft, with a total length of 25 3/4 (Spearhead).

Upon a closer look at the picture posted by both Jim and Tim (Baggara Emir), It looks like he may be carrying an arm dagger suspended from the shoulder rather than looped around the left arm in typical manner. I have never seen them worn this way. Can anybody else confirm this? It is the hourgalss shaped arm dagger form rather than the typical disc- shaped pommel often attributed to Khartoum and Omdurman. I will post one from my collection also for comparison (Arm dagger). It is a very old example, possibly pre-mahdi, although missing the arm loop.

-Geoffrey