Mongo? copper spear

Tim Simmons · 13th October 2005, 09:42 PM

I came across this copper spear. I only say it is Mongo because the holes are similar to a Mongo knife I have. To me it is quite special not many villagers would be able to sport such a thing. What I am really waiting for is for Freddy , with all that information on Congo artifacts to give his opinion. The blade is thinly beaten copper. The spike at the other end is also copper with some copper binding as with the blade. The whole spear is lightweight and would in no way function as a weapon. This is the fist one of these I have come across though I do have brass spears from other parts of Africa. Tim

Flavio · 14th October 2005, 03:48 PM

Hello Tim. On H. Westerdijk's book (Ijzerwerk van centraal-afrika) this kind of spears are attribuited to the tetela-nkutshu group and also on the book "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika". Later i will post some pictures

. Ah, a very beautiful spear, Tim

Flavio · 14th October 2005, 04:55 PM

Here are the pictures of the books: the first from Waffen aus Zentral Afrika (your spear Tim is identical to the number 218), and the second from Westerdijk's book (group III letter I: tetela-nkutshu tribes).

VANDOO · 14th October 2005, 05:23 PM

BEAUTIFUL SPEAR TIM, EVEN I DON'T HAVE A COPPER BLADED SPEAR

I NOTICED IN THE SECOND PICTURE OF SPEAR TYPES IN THE LOWER LINE IN THE CENTER THERE IS ONE THAT HAS A BELL ATTACHED TO THE BUTT OF THE SPEAR. DO MANY TRIBES HAVE THAT TYPE OF SPEAR AND WHAT IS IT FOR? SOME OF MY GUESSES HAVE BEEN FOR DANCING AND MAKING A NOISE,OR IF A ANIMAL HAS BEEN SPEARED IN THE BUSH TO TRACK IT FROM THE NOISE FROM THE BELL.

Tim Simmons · 14th October 2005, 06:16 PM

Thank you Flavio, I must get that book, something to sort out over the weekend. When I saw it I thought, this is a spear that will be a long time passing before you see another one get it . Tim

Freddy · 14th October 2005, 06:27 PM

Tim,

In the book 'Dodelijk Mooi' (Deadly beauty) a spear is shown like the second one on the left in Flavio's first pic. It's a black and white picture, so I won't show it.
But the author writes it's a currency spear used by the Jonga, Hamba, Yela and Mbole in Congo. These tribes are part of the Eastern Mongo group, together with the Topoke, Kela, Ngengele, Nkutshu, Tetela and Kusu. So what Flavio wrote is also correct.

The interesting thing about the spear in my book is that the author states that it's made from copper (just like yours), total length 1m66.

Tim Simmons · 14th October 2005, 06:38 PM

Hi Freddy, my spear is 1.67m the same size. Well that is just great I know all about it in a day. It always feels good when you get something so clearly identifiable from a scholarly book and no one else pops up with one

so far. Thanks all Tim.

13th October 2005, 09:42 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Mongo? copper spear I came across this copper spear. I only say it is Mongo because the holes are similar to a Mongo knife I have. To me it is quite special not many villagers would be able to sport such a thing. What I am really waiting for is for Freddy , with all that information on Congo artifacts to give his opinion. The blade is thinly beaten copper. The spike at the other end is also copper with some copper binding as with the blade. The whole spear is lightweight and would in no way function as a weapon. This is the fist one of these I have come across though I do have brass spears from other parts of Africa. Tim Attached Images

14th October 2005, 04:55 PM	#3
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Here are the pictures of the books: the first from Waffen aus Zentral Afrika (your spear Tim is identical to the number 218), and the second from Westerdijk's book (group III letter I: tetela-nkutshu tribes). Attached Images

14th October 2005, 03:48 PM	#2
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello Tim. On H. Westerdijk's book (Ijzerwerk van centraal-afrika) this kind of spears are attribuited to the tetela-nkutshu group and also on the book "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika". Later i will post some pictures . Ah, a very beautiful spear, Tim

14th October 2005, 05:23 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	BEAUTIFUL SPEAR TIM, EVEN I DON'T HAVE A COPPER BLADED SPEAR I NOTICED IN THE SECOND PICTURE OF SPEAR TYPES IN THE LOWER LINE IN THE CENTER THERE IS ONE THAT HAS A BELL ATTACHED TO THE BUTT OF THE SPEAR. DO MANY TRIBES HAVE THAT TYPE OF SPEAR AND WHAT IS IT FOR? SOME OF MY GUESSES HAVE BEEN FOR DANCING AND MAKING A NOISE,OR IF A ANIMAL HAS BEEN SPEARED IN THE BUSH TO TRACK IT FROM THE NOISE FROM THE BELL.

14th October 2005, 06:16 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Thank you Flavio, I must get that book, something to sort out over the weekend. When I saw it I thought, this is a spear that will be a long time passing before you see another one get it . Tim

14th October 2005, 06:27 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Tim, In the book 'Dodelijk Mooi' (Deadly beauty) a spear is shown like the second one on the left in Flavio's first pic. It's a black and white picture, so I won't show it. But the author writes it's a currency spear used by the Jonga, Hamba, Yela and Mbole in Congo. These tribes are part of the Eastern Mongo group, together with the Topoke, Kela, Ngengele, Nkutshu, Tetela and Kusu. So what Flavio wrote is also correct. The interesting thing about the spear in my book is that the author states that it's made from copper (just like yours), total length 1m66.

14th October 2005, 06:38 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Hi Freddy, my spear is 1.67m the same size. Well that is just great I know all about it in a day. It always feels good when you get something so clearly identifiable from a scholarly book and no one else pops up with one so far. Thanks all Tim.