Iron javelin and spearheads
Time
The period of Roman influence
The second half of the second century after Christ
The second half of the second century after Christ
Place
The area of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
Dimensions of the spearhead
Total length: 205mm
Length of tubular socket: 57mm
Length of tubular socket: 57mm
Dimensions of iron javelin
Total length: 330mm
Length of tubular socket 160mm
Length of tubular socket 160mm
Material
Iron
Both the presented heads consist of an elongated point and an empty socket used to mount the head on a shaft. The spearhead additionally features an longitudinal rib in the central part. The sockets are polyhedral in cross-section. The heads were fixed to the shafts with rivets. The spearhead features a preserved rivet, and the javelin head – a hole after the rivet.
The presented artefacts are remnants of poleweapon. Depending on the shape and size of the head, they were used to throw, cut, or stab in combat. The damage to both the heads is the result of ritual bending performed during the funerary rites of the Przeworsk culture people.
The iron javelin and spearheads originate from the second half of the second century. They were forged from iron bars by a blacksmith. The spearhead is twenty centimetres long and the javelin head thirty three centimetres long.
The points are almond-shaped. This means that they are narrower at the tip and gradually become broader. In the lower section they turn into tubular shaped sockets. They would have been mounted on shafts and fixed with rivets. One such rivet is preserved in the spearhead. The surfaces and edges of the points are coarse and nicked. The iron has darkened with time. It is almost matte black.
Spears and javelins of this type were used to throw, stab, and cut. The artefacts were found in a grave. The spearhead was deliberately bent, and the javelin - damaged. Representatives of the culture of that time believed that a dead warrior still needed weapons. Yet, like their owners, items placed in graves had to die. This is why they were damaged.
The points were discovered in the locality of Chmielów in the Góry Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross Mountains) area where iron smelting centres operated.
The points are almond-shaped. This means that they are narrower at the tip and gradually become broader. In the lower section they turn into tubular shaped sockets. They would have been mounted on shafts and fixed with rivets. One such rivet is preserved in the spearhead. The surfaces and edges of the points are coarse and nicked. The iron has darkened with time. It is almost matte black.
Spears and javelins of this type were used to throw, stab, and cut. The artefacts were found in a grave. The spearhead was deliberately bent, and the javelin - damaged. Representatives of the culture of that time believed that a dead warrior still needed weapons. Yet, like their owners, items placed in graves had to die. This is why they were damaged.
The points were discovered in the locality of Chmielów in the Góry Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross Mountains) area where iron smelting centres operated.
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