African Spear Heads

Cathey · 15th July 2018, 10:53 AM

Hi Guys

Many years ago I purchased a display shield featuring 7 various African spear heads and have never made any attempt to identify them. I was wondering if any one on the Forum can help?

Cheers Cathey and Rex

kronckew · 15th July 2018, 11:52 AM

The Mahdi's troops from Sudan used barbed spears, British doctors at Omdurman/Khartoum noted they made nasty wounds and were hard to extract. the others? Not sure, spears are hard to attribute as they generally used very similar forms all over the world since the beginning of time. Read a story once about an Ethiopian who used a shortish (6ft.) spear with a large wide point like your central one, he used it like a hewing spear or halberd/pole axe.

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colin henshaw · 17th July 2018, 12:05 PM

As mentioned by kronkew, African spears can be difficult to identify.

The two with many barbs are probably Sudanese. The one in the middle with the large heart-shaped blade, maybe Sahel, Dogon area ? The spear with the fine wire binding, from Somaliland/Ethiopia area. The rest could be from almost anywhere north of the Zambesi. Faceted or squared shanks probably indicate Islamic influence.

Spears south of the Zambesi were usually tanged, although there are some with tanged blades northwards.

BANDOOK · 17th July 2018, 01:25 PM

HERE ARE SOME OF MY SUDANESE SPEAR HEADS,COLLECTED IN DAFFUR,1950s
They are used for variety of purpose from hunting,fishing etc
regards
Rajesh

Cathey · 28th July 2018, 03:07 AM

Thanks guys for your help here,

The great variation in African spear heads is certainly interesting. None of the books in my library really deal with them in sufficient detail.

Regards Cathey and Rex

Helleri · 8th August 2018, 08:25 AM

Bit of an aside. But I made a joke sometime back on the topic of why these are so often so large which I thought worth sharing. That being they have additional purposes of being a spade to bury the body and an oar to make one's get away in a river boat.

15th July 2018, 10:53 AM	#1
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 282	African Spear Heads Hi Guys Many years ago I purchased a display shield featuring 7 various African spear heads and have never made any attempt to identify them. I was wondering if any one on the Forum can help? Cheers Cathey and Rex Attached Images

17th July 2018, 01:25 PM	#4
BANDOOK Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND Posts: 624	HERE ARE SOME OF MY SUDANESE SPEAR HEADS,COLLECTED IN DAFFUR,1950s They are used for variety of purpose from hunting,fishing etc regards Rajesh Attached Images

28th July 2018, 03:07 AM	#5
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 282	African Spear Heads Thanks guys for your help here, The great variation in African spear heads is certainly interesting. None of the books in my library really deal with them in sufficient detail. Regards Cathey and Rex

15th July 2018, 11:52 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	The Mahdi's troops from Sudan used barbed spears, British doctors at Omdurman/Khartoum noted they made nasty wounds and were hard to extract. the others? Not sure, spears are hard to attribute as they generally used very similar forms all over the world since the beginning of time. Read a story once about an Ethiopian who used a shortish (6ft.) spear with a large wide point like your central one, he used it like a hewing spear or halberd/pole axe. We have more skilled experts here who may comment...

17th July 2018, 12:05 PM	#3
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	As mentioned by kronkew, African spears can be difficult to identify. The two with many barbs are probably Sudanese. The one in the middle with the large heart-shaped blade, maybe Sahel, Dogon area ? The spear with the fine wire binding, from Somaliland/Ethiopia area. The rest could be from almost anywhere north of the Zambesi. Faceted or squared shanks probably indicate Islamic influence. Spears south of the Zambesi were usually tanged, although there are some with tanged blades northwards.

8th August 2018, 08:25 AM	#6
Helleri Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Chino, CA. Posts: 219	Bit of an aside. But I made a joke sometime back on the topic of why these are so often so large which I thought worth sharing. That being they have additional purposes of being a spade to bury the body and an oar to make one's get away in a river boat.