![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
|
![]()
"Biblical Archeology Review" Vol. 32: 2, March/April 2006, pp.7-8.
A letter by Mr. Ralph D. Copeland from San Antonio, TX : he discusses this dagger from Ekron (around modern Gaza/Ashqelon). Ekron was one of the 5 Philistininan cities and the dagger in question likely dates to Samson/King Saul/King David period ( ~ 1000 BCE). It has an ivory (!) handle and is sharpened on the concave side (as the author says" on the fingertip side in the photo" and may have a T-spine. His speculations: dagger? agricultural implement? ritual implement? His suggestion: it is rather a sickle than a fighting dagger, impossible to use as a cutting tool because of the location of the edge and the presence of a T-spine. The author of the original article, Mr.Seymour Gitin ("Excavating Ekron" BAR, Nov/Dec. 2005) apologized for the imprecision of calling it a dagger (a weapon)and agrees that it is likely to be a knife, ie a tool. My commentary: I could argue that there were multiple recurved swords and daggers all over the world, but I would rather get your opinion. Overall, the folks at the BAR could benefit from your experience. their site: www.biblicalarcheology.org e-mail address: bas@bib-arch.org Last edited by ariel; 13th March 2006 at 03:27 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
|
![]()
The concave edge and t-spine argue against this being a weapon?
![]() An ivory handle on an agricultural tool likewise makes little sense. ![]() As you note, Ariel, many weapons have similar features. While I wouldn't want to butcher meat with this, it would be a rather fearsome weapon, perfectly capable of causing grievous injury. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|